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ALLAN BELL & CO PANCRAS LAHE. 
1858. 



THE ENTIRE WORKS 

ROBERT BURNS; 

ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE, 
A CRITICISM ON HIS WRITINGS. 

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHARACTER AND CONDITION 
THE SCOTTISH PEASANTRY. 

BY JAMES CURRIE, M.D. 



THE. FOUR VOLUMES COMPLETE IN ONE, 
AN ENLARGED AND CORRECTED GLOSSARY. 



JMxtf) Jliatitotrtr IStrttuw. 

Embellished with 
FOURTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS FPOM ORIGINAL DESIGNS BY MR STEWART. 

LONDON: 
ALLAN BELL & CO., PANCRAS LANE, 

QUEEN STREET, CHEAPSIDE. 
MDCCCXXXVIII. 



Hft 



CAPTAIN GRAHAM MOORE, 

OF THE ROYAL NAVY. 



When you were stationed on our coast about twelve years ago, you first re- 
commended to my particular notice the poems of the Ayrshire ploughman, whose 
works, published for the benefit of his widow and children, I now present to you. 
In a distant region of the world, whither the service of your country has carried 
jou, you will, I know, receive with kindness this proof of my regard; not perhaps 
without some surprise on finding that I have been eDgaged in editing this 
work, not without some curiosity to know how I was qualified for such an 
undertaking. These points I will briefly explain. 

Having occasion to make an excursion to the county of Dumfries, in the sum- 
mer of 1792, I had there an opportunity of seeing and conversing with Burns. 
It has been my fortune to know some men of high reputation in literature, as 
well as in public life, but never to meet any one who, in the course of a single 
interview, communicated to me so strong an impression of the force and versa- 
tility of his talents. After.this I read the poems then published with greater in- 
terest and attention, and with a full conviction that, extraordinary as they are, 
they afford but an inadequate proof of the powers of their unfortunate author. 

Four years afterwards, Burns terminated his career. Among those whom 
the charms of genius had attached to him, was one with whom I have been 
bound in the ties of friendship, from early life — Mr John Syme of Ryedale. 
This gentleman, after the death of Burns, promoted with the utmost zeal a sub- 
scription for the support of the widow and children, to which their relief from 
immediate distress is to be ascribed; and, in conjunction with other friends of 
this virtuous and destitute family, he projected the publication of this work for 
their benefit, by which the return of want might be prevented or prolonged. 

To this last undertaking, an editor and biographer was wanting, and Mr 
Syme's modesty opposed a barrier to his assuming an office for which he was, in 
other respects, peculiarly qualified. On this subject he consulted me ! and with 
the hope of surmounting his objections, I offered him my assistance, but in vain. 
Endeavours were used to procure an editor in other quarters, but without effect. 
The task was beset with considerable difficulties; and men of established reputa- 
tion naturally declined an undertaking, to the performance of which it was 
scarcely to be hoped that general approbation could be obtained, by any exertion 
of judgment or temper. 



iv DEDICATION. 

To such an office, my place of residence, my accustomed studies, and m; 
occupation, were certainly little suited ; but the partiality of Mr Syme thought 
me in other respects not unqualified ; and his solicitations, joined to those of our 
excellent friend and relation Mrs Dunlop, and of other friends of the family of 
the poet, I have not been able to resist. To remove difficulties which would 
otherwise have been insurmountable, Mr Syme and Mr Gilbert Burns made a 
journey to Liverpool, where they explained and arranged the manuscripts, and 
arranged such as seemed worthy of the press. From this visit I derived a de- 
gree of pleasure which has compensated much of my labour. I had the satis- 
faction of renewing my personal intercourse with a much valued friend, and 
of forming an acquaintance with a man closely allied to Bums, in talents as well 
as in blood, in whose future fortunes the friends of virtue will not, 1 trust, be 
uninterested. 

The publication of this work has been delayed by obstacles which these 
gentlemen could neither remove nor foresee, and which it would be tedious to 
enumerate. At length the task is finished. If the part which I have taken 
shall serve the interest of the family, and receive the approbation of good men, 
I shall have my recompense. The errors into which I have fallen are not, I 
hope, very important : and they will be easily accounted for by those who 
know the circumstances under which this undertaking has been performed. 
Generous minds will receive the posthumous works of Burns with candour, and 
even partiality, as the remains of an unfortunate man of genius, published for 
the benefit of his family, as the stay of the widow, and the hope of the fatherless. 

To secure the suffrages of such minds, all topics are omitted in the writings, 
and avoided in the life of Burns, that have a tendency to awaken the animosity 
of party. In perusing the following work, no offence will be received, ex- 
cept by those to whom the natural erect aspect of genius is offensive ; characters 
that will scarcely be found among those who are educated to the profession of 
arms. Such men do not court situations of danger, nor tread in the paths of 
glory. They will not be found in your service, which in our own days, emulates 
on another element, the supsrior fame of the Macedonian phalanx, or of the 
Roman legion, and which has lately made the shores of Europe and of Africa, 
resound with the shouts of victory, from the Texel to the Tagus, and from the 
Tagus to the Nile ! 

The works of Burns will be received favourably by one who stands in the fore- 
most rank of this noble service, and who deserves his station. On the land or 
on the sea, I know no man more capable of judging of the character or of the 
writings of this origiaal genius. Homer, and Shakspeare, and Ossian, cannot 
always occupy your leisure. This work may sometimes engage your atten- 
tion, while the steady breezes of the tropic swell your sails, and in another 
quarter of the earth, charm you with the strains of nature, or awake in your 
memory the scenes of your early days. Suffer me to hope that they may some- 
times recall to your mind the friend who addresses you, and who bids jou most 
affectionately— adieu ! 

J. CURRIK. 
Liverpool, 1st May, 1800. 



CONTENTS. 



PREFATORY REMARKS. 



Effects of the legal 
lishment of Pa 
schools— of the chu 



Scottish music and 
specting marriage i 



LIFE OF BURNS. 

amtive of his infancy and 

iveoi the sa^e subject by 
lis brother, and by Mr 

;eacher — Other particn- 



Page 1 Page 

loth Jan. 1783, Burns's in reply to a letter of ad- 

Former teacher ; giving an vice .... 91 

account of his present I 22. Extract concerning the 
itudiesandtemperofmind S3 monument erected for Fer- 
. Extracts from MSS. Ob- j gusson by our poet - 91 

servations on various sub. 23. To , accompanying 

' -'■e foregoing - - 92 



March, 1787. Respecting 
his prospects on leaving 
Edinburgh - - 9 

26. To the same, loth 
April, 1787. On the same 
subject ... 9 

27. To Dr Moore, 23d 



:ory 



12. From the Rev. Mr Low. 
e, 22d December, 1786. 
dvice to the Bard how to 
induct himself in Edin- 
nrgh t 

13. To Mr Chalmers, 27th 
"" ember, 1786. Praise 

Miss Burnet of Mon- 
bo.ddo I 

14. TotheEarlofEglintnn, 
Jan. 1737. Thanks for 

>'! To" Mra°Dunlop, 15th 
Fan. 1787. Account of 
lis situation in Edinburgh I 
i. To Dr Moore, 1787. 



17. From Dr Moore, 23d 
' . 1787. In answer to 
Foregoing, and enclos- 



Death of Burns, by Mr 
Roscoa -.- 75 

GENERAL CORRESPON- 



s Earl of Gleu- 



21. Te the E; 



29. To the Rev. Dr Blair, 
3d May. Written on leav- 
ing Edinburgh. Thanks 



Water to the Duke of 
Athole" - - - < 

34. To Mr G. Burns, 17th 
Sept. Account of his tour 
through the HighUnds < 

35. From Mr Ramsay of 
Ochtertyre, 22d October, 
enclosing Latin inscrip- 



b of Omei 



36. From Mr Wall 

37. From Mr A 

38. Mr Ramsay tc 
W. Young. 22d C 

39. Mr Ramsay to' 
lock, 27th Oct. 1 
of Scottish Song 



Castle, 31st Oct. 1787, ac- 

to lady Charlotte Gordon 10: 

42. From the Rev. J. Skin, 
ner, 14ih November, 1787. 



Lord Glencairn - 10 

45. To Mrs Dnnlop, 21st 



49. From Mr Cleghorn, 27 th 
April, in reply to the above. 
The Chevalier's Lament in 
fall, in a nole - - 10 

50. To Mrs Dnnlop, 28th 



53. Extract to Mrs Dnnlop, 
4th May. Remarks on 

. Dryden's Virgil, and Pope's 
Odyssey ... 107 

54. To the same, 27th May. 



June, 1708. Account of 
his marriage - - 10 

56. To Mr P. Hill, with a 
present of a cheese - 10 

57. To Mrs Dnnlop, 2d Au- 
gust, 1788. With lines on 

a hermitage - - 10 

58. To the same, 10th Aug. 
Farther account of his 
Marriage - - 10 



3788. Crit 



64. To Mrs Dnnlop, 17th 
Dec. with the soldier's 
song— " Go fetch to me a 
pint of wine" - - II 

65. To Miss Davies, a young 
lady who had heard he had 
been making a ballad on 

66. To Sir John White- 
foord 11 

67. From Mr G. Burns, 1st 
Jan. 1789. Reflections 



72. To Mrs Dnnlop, 4th 
" ch. Reflections after 
_ .jit to Edinburgh 11 

73. To the Rev. P. Carfrae, 
nswer to No. 71 • 11 

74. To Dr Moore. Euclos- 
ingapnem . - 11 

'5. To Mr Hill. Apostrophe 
to Frugality - - 11 

'6. To Mrs Dnnlop. With 
a sketch of an epistle in 
verse to the Right Hon. C. 
J. Fox- - 15 

77. To Mr Cunningham. 
With the first draught of 
the poem on a Wounded 
Hare ... 12 

8. From Dr Gregory. Cri- 



79. To MrM'Aulayof Dum- 

ttion 1! 

'o Mrs Dnnlop. Re- 
gions on Religion i: 

81. From Dr Moore. Good 
advice 1! 

82. From Miss J. Little. A 



86. From Dr Blac 



87. To Dr Blacklock. Poe- 
88. C To R? Graham 6 , Esq? En - 







illads 




126 


::■ 


r To 


Mrs Dun 


ting refiec 




y> 


'1 


Sir Joh 


n Sinclair 








int of a b 
















I- 




dale 




128 


91 


T 


Mr Gilt 


ert Burns 








a prologn 


e spoken! 








umfries Theatre 


129 






Mrs Dun 


>p. Som 








nt of Fa 








or of the Shiv 




129 




Fr 


m Mr Cn 
riesofour 


nningham 


130 


94 




MrCnnn 














131 


95 


'IV 


Mr Hill. 


Order fo 


131 


96 




Mrs' Du 


nlop. Re 












j? 




n the writ 


ngs of M 


m 



Mack' 



132 



97. From Mr Cunninghan 
\ccount of the death of 
diss Burnet of Monboddol33 
I. To Dr Moore. Thanks 
or a present of Zelnco 133 

99. To Mrs Dun'.op. Writ- 
- un under wounded pride 134 
0. To Mr Cunningham, 



6 th ? 



134 



01. From Dr Blacklock, 
1st September, 1790. Poe- 
tical letter of Friendship 134 
.02. Extract from Mr Cun- 
ningham, 14th October. 
Suggesting subjects for 
our poet's muse - 135 

03. To Mrs Dunlop, Nov. 
1790. Congratulations on 
the birth of her grandson 135 

04. To Mr Cunningham, 
23d Jan. 1791, with an 



From A. F. Tytler, 
12th March. Criti- 
on Tarn o' Shanter 136 
07. To A. F. Tytler, Esq. 



09. To Lady W. M. Con- 
„M % acknowledging a 
nt of a snuff-box 1- 

o Mrs Graham of Fin- 
try. enclosing "Queen 
Mary's Lament" - 13 
11. From the Rev. G. 
Baird, 8th February, 1781, 



V 


Wishing 
chael B 
To the 


the 


poems of 


11'. 


K- 


G. Baird, 




reply to 




bove 1 


113 


To D 


r M 




Fe 


brnary. 




enclosing 


T 






&c. 1 


1U 


From 


3r .\ 


oore, 29th 


M 


drch, wi 






Ta 


mo' Sha 




&c 1 


115 


To the 








h Feb. 










of tr 


e "Essays 






ip- = 






h remar 




the book 1 


116 


To Mi 


'~c'- 


ningham, 


l;2th Marc 







118 


to Mr Cunningham, 


Hth Juns 


. requesting his 






or an oppressed 


fri 


nd 


142 


119 


From 


the Earl of Buch- 




17th.. 




ing over 


our Bard to the 


Th 


lr;V/:n 


on Ednam hill 142 


120 


"t'jth 


EarlofBuchan, 






- - - 142 


121 




heEarlofBuch- 
Sept. 1671, pro- 


i 


■""' * 


subject for our 




se - - 143 


122. To L 


dy E. Cunning. 


ham, enc 


osing " The La- 




nt for 


James, Earl of 


a: 




143 


123 


To Mr Ainslie. State 


nf hia m 








143 




From 


Sir John White- 


foo 


rd, 15: 


b Oct. Thanks 


for 


■Tne 


ameut on James, 



25. From A. F. Tytler, 
Esq. 27th NV.vember.1791. 



and the Lament 

126. To Miss Dav 
logy for neglec 

127. To Mrs Dun 



ledging the presen 



i seal— moral reflecti 



CONTESTS. 

j Mrs Dnnlop, I 



mentofapoet - IE 
139. To John M-Murdo, 
Esq. December, 1793. Re- 
paying money - 1: 

40. ToMissB .advising 

at the Dumfries Theatre IE 

41. To a Lady in favour of 
a Player's Benefit - IE 



145. to the same, lending 

of interrupted friend- _ 

147.' -To the same, on a 
temporary estrangement 154 

48. To John Syme, Esq. 
Reflections on the happi- 
ness of Mr O - 154 

49. To Miss , request- 
ing the return of MSS. _ 

50. To Mr Cunningham, 
25th February, 1794. Mel- 
ancholy reflections— cheer- 
ing prospects of a happier 

151. To MrsR-1-. "sup- 
d to be written from 

e dead to the living" 156 
To Mrs Dnnlop, loth 
m.ber, 1795. Reflec- 
; on the situation of 
family, if he should 



June, 1796. Apology for 

nigh "assembly 
157. To Mr Cunningha 
7th Jt' " 

of his 






POEMS, 
dogs : a tale 



s in the House of 



The First Psalm 

A Prayer - 

The first six verse 



tie's' P ems, 'for a Nev 
year's Gift 



Church ... 2 
Address to Edinburgh 2 

Epistle to J. Lapraik, an 

old Scottish Bard - 2i 
To the same - - 21 

Epistle to VV.S .Ochil- 

tree .... 21 
Epistle to J. R , enclos- 
ing some Poema - 21 
John Barleycorn: A Bal- 
lad - - - - 21 
A Fragment, ' When Guild- 
ford good onr pilot stoud,'2( 
Song, ' It was npon a Lam- 
mas Night' - - 2( 
Song, ' Now westlin winds, 
and slaught'ring guns,' 2( 



mg, ' Again rejoicing Na- 
.uresees' - - 2 

jng, «The gloomy Night 
s gathering fast' - 2 
mg, ' From thee, Eliza, I 
mist go' - - 2 

he Farewell, to the Breth- 
en of St James's Lodge, 
rarbolton - - 2 

>ng, ' No Churchman am 
: for to rail and to write' 2 
r ritten on Friar's Carse 



Elegy on Captain Matthew 
Henderson - - 2 

Lament of Mary Queen of 
Scots ... 2 

To Robert Graham, Esq. of 



f or R A . Esq. 


21S 


To R. Graham 


forG. H. Esq. 




Epitaph on a 


A Bard's Epitaph 


218 






Grace before 1 








O.i Miss Cruikshanks 




Dunlop . 


Song, 'Anna, ,hy c! 




On takin? lea 


my bosom fire,' 


219 


in the Highla 



CONTENTS. 








Pap 


Page 


On the death of Jc 




Written on Friars - Carse 


M'Leod, Esq. - 


219 


Hermitage, on Nithside 109 


Humble Petition of Br 




Epistle to R. Graham, Esq. Ill 




220 


On seeing a Wounded Harel21 


On Scaring some Wa 




To Dr Blacklock - 126 



3n my Early Days - '. 
iong, « In Manchline there 
dwells six proper young 



The Jolly Beggars : A Can 



o W. Tytler, Esq. 242 



NDEX TO THE POETRY, 



19 
i New- year I wish thee, 
gie ... 18 
ie, Lord Gregory, thy 

26 
ail ! inexorable lord 19! 
is; the heathy hills and 



Elyihe, blythe and merry 

was she 23: 

Blythe hae I been on yon 



CO:,TENTS. 



™ Cm cam 



Farewell thou str 


sam' that" 




winding flows - 


268 




Farewell thou fair 


day, thou 


give you 


F^te gave the wor 


A, thear- 


of worth 




240 


Is there 


Flow gently, ewe 


t Afton, 


fool 




braes 239 


Is there, f 










230 


of May 


Forlorn, my love, 


no c° m - 


It was n 



11 




e 


are the pa 


H 


•\t 


S 


and drearj 








winding L 


11 






tasband, 


I 


.11 .. 


wa 


oddess to 
efn' gate ye 



..curse on t y^ 
ong, boys, I'll 



a Lammas 

20! 
the parting 

24< 

John Anderson my jo. John 23: 
Keen blaws the wind o'er 

Ken you ought o' Caotain 
Grose - ' - - 25( 
Kilmarnock wabsters, fidge 

Kind C sir, I've read your 

paper through - - 24: 
Know thou, O stranger to 

tissie wi'the lintwhite locks 29' 
Last May a braw wooer cam 

down the lang glen - 30! 
Late cri ppled of an arm, and 



auderwherel will 282 



Let other poets is 
Long, long the eight 



Mark yonder pomp of 



the fr 
I by thee 240 



eart is sair, I dan 
ononred Colonel, d 



grove in green 

Now westlin' win 
slanght'riug guns 



O had the malt thy strength 



my spinning^ 
nywee thing 259 



ough, rude, ready-witted 



woodlark, stay 

O Thou rke™/ Power wh 
O Thou Great Being, wha 
O Thou pale orb.'that siler 



! Stay,m 

Stream's 
plains 



; floi 



ssenger! my story's 
- - - 2: 

Willie-yet believe 
" . " . " . 2£ 

pledge o" 



OTh 






« first, tl 



O Thou! whatever title 
O Thou who kindly c 



1 .heJmiling a spring' , c'ornes ^ 

The re suT"had closed the 

" ter day - . IE 

Thames flows proudly 

he sea - - 23 

wind blew hollow frae 






idle page 21 9 ' 
■r ringlets- " 
ri' Wallac 



Tis friendship's pledge, my 
young fair friend - 301 



'Tvva 




I place 


Scot- 




'sisle 




163 






was he, the sac 






Yarrow 


264 


Turn 




thou fair 




'Twa 




r bonni 


5 bin* 








298 






Timet S 










168 


Upon 


that 


night, 




fain 






1S5 


We 














230 


We, 


modes 


, erirnsc 


"•"P- 



whit shall a younf laVsie'^S |j 
When biting Boreas, fel 

and dnure - - 189 

When chapman billies leave 

the street - - 215 | 

surly blast - - 195 1 

When Death's dark stream 

I ferry o'er - - 251 I 

When Guilford good our 



iVhen iyart leaves 



woodbine; 
littlewin g 272 



Thine be the vo 
' fair - 

This day, Tim 



Whoe'er thou art, O 

Why am I loith to le 
' earthly scene - 
Why, why tell thy 1c 



rYill ye go h 
ViTtth^nbei 



1. Mr Thomson to 
Burns. 1792. Desiring 
Bard to furnish verses 
some of the Scottish a 
and to revise former aoi: 

2. Mr B. to Mr T. Pron 

3. Mr T. to Mr B. W 

4. Mr B. to MrT. W 
'The Lee Rig,' and'V 
ye^go to the Indies, 

5. Mr B. to Mr T. W 



7. Mr T. to Mr B. Thank: 
and critical observations 

8. Mr B. to Mr T. Wit! 



Ir B. to Mr T. 
Poortith Canld, 



CONTENTS. 



- 19. MrB. to MrT. Voice 
J of Coila— criticism— Ori- 
gin of 'The Lass o' Pa- 



22. Mr B. to Mr T. ' Fare- 



23. Mr T. to Mr B. Thanks 



26. Mr T. to Mr B. En- 
closing a note— Thanks 270 

27. MrB. to MrT. With 



to Mr T. Has 



13. Mr B. to Mr T. With 

• Mary Morrison' - 26 

14. MrB to MrT. With 
•Wandering Willie' 26 

15. Mr B. to Mr T. With 



Miis 



was fair' 

28. Mr B. to Mr T. 

29. Mr T. to IV 



0. Mr B. to Mr T. For 
Mr Clarke - - 272 

31. MrB. to MrT. With 
' Phillis the fai^ - 272 
12. Mr T. to Mr B. Mr 
Allan— Drawing from 

iyjo'_ 272 



33. J 



' Had I 



u Mr ' 



Vith 



\7. Mr B. to Mr T. ' Daii 



39. Mr B. to MrT. 



41. Mr T. to Mr B. Ob- 
servations on 'Bruce to 
his troops' . - % 

42. Mr B. to Mr T. Re- 



Pagt 

marks on songs in MtT.'e 
list— His own method of 
forming a song-'Thou 

• Where are the joys I hae 
met in the morning'— 
« anld langsyne* - 277 

43. Mr B. to Mr T. With 



44. Mr T. t 


o Mi B. Thanks 


45. Mr B. 


o Mr T. ' On 


Banuockb 




'Fair Jen 


/ - - 2 


46. Mr B. 


o MrT. With 


'Deluded 




sure'— Re 


narks - 2 


47. Mr B. 


o Mr T. With 


'Thine an 


I, my faithfnl 


fair'— '0 


ondescend.dear 


charming 


maid' — 'The 




e' — ' Laura* — 


jgthSe 


last by G. Turn- 



48. Mr T. to Mr B. Ap- 
prehensions— Thanks 2! 

49. Mr B. to Mr T. With 



a sketch from the Cottar's 
Saturday Night - 28 

(1. MrB. to MrT. Praise 
of Mr Allan— 'Banks of 
Cree' 28 

■2. Mr B. to Mr T. Pleyel 
in France—' Here where 
the Scottish Muse immor- 
tal lives.' presented to Miss 

if Fintry - 28' 



.3. Mr T 
not eip. 
Pleyel sr 



seas and faraway' 2S4 



-5. Mr T. ti 

6. Mr B. to Mr 



'. Mr B. to Mr T. With 
f a'— ' 3 let meTn/Lcf— 



59. Mr T. to Mr B. H 
ictions-RiSon-K 



xii 


CONTENTS. 




Page 


Pagt 


Pt 


— Remarks and anecdotes 


to have a pictnre from 


78. Mr T. to Mr B. Intro- 


— ' How long and dreary is 


' The Soldier's Return' 295 


ducing Dr Brianton 3 


the night'—' Let not wo- 


66. Mr B. to Mr T. With 


79. Mr B. to Mr T. < For- 


man e'er complain'— 'The 


' My Nannie's awa' 295 


lorn my love, no comfort 


lover's morning salute to 


67. Mr B. to Mr T. 1795. 


near' ... 3 


his mistress'— ■ The Auld 


With • For a' that an' a' 


80. Mr B. to Mr T. ' Last 


Man' — ' Keen blaws the 


that,' and • Sweet fa's the 


May a braw,' Sic.—' Why, 


wind o'er Donocht-head," 


eve on Craigieburn' 296 


why tell thy lover.' a frag- 


in a note - - 288 


68. MrT. to Mr B. Thanks 297 


ment - - -3 


61. MrT. to MrE. Wishes 


69. Mr B. to Mr T. « 


81. Mr T. to Mr B. - 3 






82. Mr T. to Mr B. 1796. 


One — Ritson's historical 


yet.' and the Answer 297 


After an awfnl pause 3 




70. Mr B. to Mr T. ' Dis- 


83. MrB. to MrT. Thanks 


Ian— Maggie Lauder 290 


praise of Ecclefechan' 297 
71. MrT. to Mr B. Thanks 297 


for P. Pindar, &c— • Hey 


62. Mr B. to Mr T. Has 


for a lass wi' a tocher' 3 


begun his Anecdotes, &c. 




84. MrT. to MrB. Allan 


—'My Chloris mark how 


dress to' the'Woodlark'— 


has designed some plates 




•On Chloris being ill'— 


for an 8vo edition 3 


•It was the charming 


'Their groves o' sweet 


85. Mr B. to Mr T. Af- 


month of May'— 'Lassie 
wi' the lint-white locks'— 


myrtle,' &c. — « Twas na 


flicted by sickness, bnt 


her bonny bine e'e,' &c. 298 




History of the Air 'Ye 


73. Mr T. to Mr B. With 


etchings ... 3 


bants and braes o' bonny 


Allan's design from 'The 


86. Mr T. to Mr B. Sym- 


Doon' — James Miller- 


Cottar's Saturday Night' 299 


pathy—encouragement 3 
87. Mr B. to Mr T. With 


Clarke— The black keys- 


74. Mr B. to Mr T. With 


Instances of the difficnlty 


' How cruel are the pa- 






rents,' and • Mark yonder 


lo'e dear" - - 3 


ancient airs . - 290 


pomp of costly fashion' 299 


88. Mr B. to Mr T. Intro- 


63. MrT. to Mr B. With 


75. Mr B. to Mr T. Thanks 


ducing Mr Lewars— Has 


three copies of the Scot- 


for Allan's designs 299 






76. Mr T. to Mr B. Com- 


songs — hopes to recover 3 


64. Mr B. to MrT. With 


pliment - - - 299 


S9. Mr B. to Mr T. Dread- 


' Philly, happy be that 


77. Mr B. to Mr T. With 


ing the horrors of a jail, 




an improvement in • Whis- 


tented wi' little, and can- 




five pounds, and encloses 


tie wi' mair'— ' Canst thou 


my lad'—' O this is no my 


'Fairest maid on Devon 


leave me thus, my Katy'— 


ain lassie'—' Now Spring 


oanks' ... 3 






90. Mr T. to Mr B. Sym. 


lie, yet believe me,' in a 






nose)— Stock and horn 293 






65. Mr T. to Mr B. Praise 


ship's pledge, my young, 


by subscription: Pope pub- 


—Desires more songs of 


fair friend 300 


lished the Iliad so 3 


the humorous cast— Means 







LIFE 
ROBEUT BURNS. 



PREFATORY REMARKS. I Moody convulsions in which both divisions cf 

the island were involved, and which, in a con- 
THOT/GH the dialect in which many of the siderable de<rroe, concealed from (he eve of tha 
happiest effusions of Ronert Burns are corn- historian the domestic history of the peop e, and 
posed, be peculiar to Scotland, yet his reputa- the gradual variatiuns in their condition and 
tion has extended itself beyond the limits of manners. Since ihe Union, Scotland, though 

as the offspring of original genius, by persons the House of Stuart to the throne, has enjoyed 

tress of his infant family, 'have been felt in a try has been in a great measure formed, though 
remarkable manner wherever his writings have the political causes affecting it are to be traced 



Jo render the incidents of his humble story seas a curiosity, and have obtained a degree of 

'iTaWe'to^ren'^som' " "T"' "T^ch 1 " 1 " mem"' 8 '' "' COrreSp0ndirS '° lheS6 * c r™ 

i nliarilies r the establishment of a school in 

ish peasantry will not, perhaps, be found of legislation to be found in the records of his- 
he subject is in a great measure new. Scot- ends in view, the s.mpl.city of the means em- 
it every brunch of philosophy and literature; means'effeetual to their purpose. This excel- 
ind her h, story, while a separate and indepen- lent statute was repealed on the accession of 
lent nation, has been successfully explored. Charles II. in lutiO, together with all tha 



slept during ihe reigns of Charles and Jar, 



. i of her by the Scott si . ■ ■ 

territory and climate. The Reformation, by in 169G ; and this is the last provision on the 

nn the nation;,! .-■ ^ij followed may be' considered 'to br.-e commenced about 

Ihe English throne; and the period which operated with the peace and security arising 

elapsed from that accession to the Union, has from that happy event, in producing the ez. 

been rendered memorable, chiefly by those traordinary change in favour of industrj ftSv} 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRAitY. 



council, of the 10th of December, 1616, it was 
recommended to the bishops to dealt and travel 
with the heritors (land proprietors), and the 

"rame™ert^selid,™Psure course " P for 

settling and entertaining a school in each 
parish. This was ratified by a statute of Char. 
I. (the act, 1633, chap. 5. ') v. in, h eui'.o were*. 
the bishop, with the e 



a parish, or of a majo 


-ity of the inhabitants, if 




o attend the meeting, to 


assess every plough 


,. 1 1 (th,U i^, ,,. 




upon it) with a certa 




school. This was a. 




depending on the co 


sent and pleasure of the 


heritors and inhabit 






Uroduced by Stat. 1646, 


chap. 17, which Mi 


es the heritors and miois- 




neet and assess the several 


heritors with the req 


isile sum for building a 


school-house, and to 


elect a school-master, and 










hundred, nor above 




is, in our present st 


erling money, not under 


L.5, lis. ljd. nor 


above L.11, 2s. 3d. and 



lishment of Scotland hap- 



jcotland is 877 ; and if w 



le salary of 
>f the legal 



pose the wages paid by the scholars to amount 
to twice this sum, which is probably beyond 
the truth, the toUl of the expences among 
1,526,492 persons (the whole population of 
Scotland) of this most important establishment 
will be L. 18,417. But on this, as well as on 



' "co. I. chap 



1 on the _____ 

the clergy, and as it regulates the paym— * -' 
the land-tax. But in case the heritors c 
parish, or the majority of them, should : 
discharge this duty, then the persons fo_ 
what is called the Committee of Supply of the 
county, (consisting of the principal landholders) 



the approbation of the presbytery ; who, if they 
find him unlit, may declare his incapacity, and 
thus oblige them to elect anew. So far is 
stated on unquestionable authority.* 

The legal salary of the schoolmaster was not 
inconsiderable at the time it was fixed ; but by 
the decrease in the value of money, it is tow 
certainly inadequate to its object; and it is 
painful to observe, that the landholders of 

of parishes in 
r Tytlcr, and 



enacted, " that of the 
te sale of the Scottish e 
rebellion of 1715, L. 2,0 



tabling schools in the Highlands. The Society 
t'.T pi,,,, abating Christian Knowledge, incor- 
porated in 1709, have applied a large part of 
their fund for the same purpose. By their re- 
port, l=t May, 1795, the annual sum employed 
by them, in supporting their schools in the 
Highlands and Islands, was £.3,913, 19s. 
lOd. in which o -!i language, 

ligion.° The schools of the society are addi- 
tional to the legal sc 1 "- 1 - 



iish p, 



Hi 


rom the 




arishes, 


- ll„- 




ot , 


eople in 








schools 



.n. So 



r ed the principal part of hi 

need indeed are the poor people of Scot- 
land, by experience, of the benefit of instruction 
to their children, that though they may often 
find it difficult to feed and clothe them, some 



The i 



on the peasantr 
have decided by e_ 



the poor be. favourable 

dared as folk. 
this day in Scotland, tw 
people begging from door 
the number of them be pe 
it was formerly, by reasor 



BURN'S—PREFATORY REMARKS. 

which may be called its sehool-establisl 
it. The ^lergyuian, being every whel 









pelually drunk, cursing, blaspheming, am 
lighting together. ■'* This high-minded slates 

" that he would lose his life readily lo save hi 
country, and would not do a base thing to serv 
it, " thought the evil so great that he propose, 



the noble 


legacy oft 






and happ 


. i 0, the : 




n, the Uni 






At the 
















Scotland 


We hav 






preceding 


the 3 ear 1 



annually; and one quarter -sessions for the 

town of .Manciple- ouiv, has sent, according 
to Mr Hume, more felons lo the plantation^ 







majority of those who suffer the pun 




of death for their crimes in every part 


- 


land are, it is believed, in this wiserab 




There is now a legal provision for p 


rochial 


schools, or rather for a school in eacl 




different townships into which the co 




divided, in several of the northern s 


at,-= : of 


North America. They are, however, o 


f recent 


origin there, excepting in New Englanu 


, where 




y, pro- 


bably about thest - - 

by the same religious sect. In the Pr 






Cantons of Switzerland, the peasant 




the advantage of similar schools, thoug 








This is also the case in certain dis 




England, particularly, in the northern 








ties of Westmoreland and Cumberland. 






of the 


land'; but the fund was diverted from 


of Ire- 


Us pur- 


* Political Works of Andrew X 




octavo, London, 1737, p. 144. 





of the s 

.e long con. 



comfort of tl 



in the : 



iti-h c 



means of classical instru 
le farmers, and some eve. 



expense of instructing their children, but from 
the charge of supporting them. In .he country 
parish schools, the English language, writing, 



ttempt a. 


y precise 


~ t .' I i 


That it 
stry and 
.dividual 

nd it is 


cause of t 
nture so 
edge has, 


at spirit 



pose, and the raeasure was en 


tirely frustrated. 


Proh Pudor ! 




The similarity of charac 


er between the 


Swiss and the Scotch, and be 


ween the Scotch 


and the people of New Engla 


id, can scarcely 



doubt increased by physical causes. With a 
superior degree of instruction, each of these 
nations possesses a country that may be said 

1 tl . U ur dcf countries 

the other effects on conduct and character 



laps admit of an 

ad. How much 
t, and in happi- 



,vill speedily discover, 
tmoreland, and of the 
1 above, if their physi- 
e taken together, are, 
:ditor, superior to the 



4 DIAMOND CABINET LIBR4.EY. 

portion as he is informed, Las his wishes en- 1 The preachers of the Reformation in Scot- 
larged, as well as the means of gratifying those, land were disciples of Calvin, and brought 
wishes. He may be considered as taking with- with tueai the temper as well as the tenets' of 
in the sphere of his vision a larger portion of ] that celebrated heresiarch. The presbytcrian 

vantages at a greater distance on its surface." His i endeared to the people, (rem its "uius e.taLlLh- 
-'"' on, once excited, are stimulated j ed by their ' 



by h 



ntggle : 



e neighbourhood of other 



inty. If, therefore 
rion be given to I 
aparatively poor. 



it finally triumphed, r< 



r, the temper of the people I 



if not wholly fall; 
population acts in n 



ihe emigration of a part of a people faci.itat 
the marriage of the rest, by producing a rela 
five increase in the means of subsistence. Th 
arguments of Adam Smith, for a free export ( 

to the free export of people. The more certai 
the vent, the -,-.„: ,- il,c cultivation of the soil 

This subject htl, bee,, veil investigated bv Si 
James Stewart, whose principles have 'bee 



exactly by an examination of the invaluabl 
Statistics already mentioned. If we suppos 
that there is an equal number of mate an 

female natives ot Scotland, aliv, ,„„ , • . , , 



tion communicated in them partook of the re- 

racter of the people. The Catechism 

bfthe Westminster Divines was the universal 



SSSs 



nesot the Christian fait 



of Solomon, ai 


J fee :\ -y. 


and Old Tes 






follow in regu 




on ; and the 




alar 




with the 


knowledge 


of 




sacred writing 


, and rcce 


"".V' J e;'lle- 


\: 


-"-? 


nstruction ofT 


-lo„ of Fa 


h. Thus, w 
the national c 


3tl 


th 2 


and hence the 




asantry of Sc 




.id° 


s displayed in 


em to the n 


sputation. 1 




0.1- 




preferenc 


of certain fo 




'of 


vorship ; the s 
her obscure, 


f we did n 


ich would be 


al 


trie 



, , tlie nore rigid disciples of 

tumour is equal to Butler's ; and whose draw- 



ving cut of Scotland. But though the males 
, Id to 12, 

ell as"tfe males," this mode of calculating 

le truth. 'The unhealthy climates in which 
ev emigrate, the hazardous services in whi-h 
nan,, of them engage, render the mean life 
' those who leave Scotland (to speak in the 







. 1 


for 










the strengt 


hcf h 










0? h 




te The re ?nro 






I): 


of conduct! 


■ 


bilsl 





B [JEN S PREFATO R * REMARK S. 



I or forty years ago, when the music itself 



a which, howev 

from the wisdom of the English legislature, mace little proliciencj. 
To make a legal provision for the inevitable j That dancing should also be very generally a 

:d incapable of laoonrf e maj to en this del 



^"'cius^prt! 


generally of their own number, many of wb 




nger. It must 








mouths. The school is usually a barn, 
the arena for the performers is generally a c 
floor. The dome is lighted by candles stuc 


■ay 






pover 

appe 


ton of a legal provisio 
y ; the establishment 
ion of the last, were eq 

irsurprlsingT/theSc 
ore than usual share c 


i, tin 


I of "a being 'that 1 



icted by others of aao 
subject, if fully exai 



ion of i 

ieed hi 
s. The favourable 

ued, would lead t< 
was established ir 



Church-mc, r\ f°ihe e educ 

tion of the peasantry of Scotland, in which tin 
are usually instructed in the long winter nigh 



* Holy Willie's Prayer— Rob the Rvm. 
Welcome to his Eastard Child— E:.:s;u to 
tiowdie-the Holy Tulzie, &c. 



;tk in Scotlan 
own. In our c 
o England, an, 



Their modes of d 



babh tc 



This triumph of the music of Scotland over 

'"•'■"- '■ 

aries who dissentTrom the establishment on 

tal doctrines and discipline, uiiiversr.il/ 



s 


D1A3JOND CABINET LIBRARY 


onJemn the p 


ractice of dancing, and the kind are the subjects of many of the Scottish 




it is taught : and the more songs, some of the most beautiful of which 


derly and serio 






ate rather than approve these 


which they celebrate he was perfectly skilled ; 


eetings of th 


young of both sexes, where 


he knew and had practised all its mysteries. 






Intercourse of this sort is indeed universal, even 








eep. 


e itself is sometimes lulled to 


suppose, that it may exist in a greater degree, 


The Reforma 










hold of the nation ; thus affor 
if its antiquity, stronger than a. 

psslo" S wTjc" fee Scottish inus 



is the subject of ih- epii. r p r . . p • rtioi.." A \ i:h- 
out displaying the higher powers of the ima- 
gination, they exhibit a perfect knowledge of 






pressions of sense the beautiful colours c 
imagination. Hence in the course of his pas 
sion, a Scottish peasant often exerts a spirit < 



ivay. _ He approaches her in secrecy 
mgbt. A signal at the d 



le deeper shade of night. 



:iuuaily fanned by tl 
ic full of tenderness »nd seniitilitv'! 
:t influence of physical causes on th 



music and poetry are the chief. Amo 
;nows of Laplaud, and under the burnii 
jf Angola, the savage is seen hastening 
mistress, and every where he Leguil 
weariness of bis journey with poetry and 



placed, as the i 
the sexes. Wl 



the i 



the field of 
n the sexe: 



n the sourer, 
f felicity de- 



. the heritage of our species is compar- 
of the brutes that perish. "If we could with 

land, judging from this criterion, might be 
considered as ranking high in happiness and 
virtue in very remote ages. To appreciate her 



fow far the en eel 
supported by fac 






ifluence of other 
a andeccle- 

silently and slowly, are often powerfully con- 
trolled. In the point of view in which we are 
considering the subject, the ecclesiastical esta- 

rable to purity of conduct. The 
dissoluteness of manners among the Catholic 

produced the Reformation, led to an extraor- 



—PREFATORY REMARKS. 



dinary strictness on the 


part 


f the reformers 


and especially in that { 




ar in which th 


licentiousness of the clergy ha 




its greatest height— the 












ed with austerity of m 




the disciples c 








fire Protestant 




h. The punish 


merit of illicil 


betw 


en the sexes was 


throughout all Europe 


a pr 


viuce which th 


clergy assumed to them 






of Scotland, which at t 


le Ret 












nder 


er more especia 








■without marriage, the 


oTof'thrfeml 



public penance, and sustain a public rebuke 
from the pulpit, for three Sabbaths si 



same with 






male; but 


how much 








It is well 








worthy of the iro 


n minds of 




..f K. 




as often led 




quences, at 


the ve 




ition of wh 














While th 








nence pre- 


scribed by t 






of Scotland 






have a 












by th 






riage, the v 


aiidity 












hurci, no. 


Dther cere- 




simp! 


the 








1 Other 






by the part 


-s befo 


















Icnowledgm 


entha 


iug 


aken place. 


And as 



(James the First of England), i 



much enforced. 



' 


st 


tute. (See Hu 


the Law 




f Scotland, Vo 


from i 






ind whic 




as long fallen 


n the mid 


- : i 


of the last cen 



with death ii 


"the" 


econd instance 








4. AS,. II.-). 


Happily 

ly along 












restoration o 


Chai 


les II. to who 








vebeenpecuha 


Iv abhor 


And after the 


;ts-'i 




•era! sal 








of the 


ZtnV ™ 




cted by the Sc 


ttish P 




.,.r :; 


that for the est 








e statute punis 


hing for 




ith, was su 


sleep i 


grave of tha 


stern 


fanatics who 


badgiv 



illicit gratification. Such a degree of laxity 
respecting so serious a contract might produce 
much confusion in the descent of property, 

of Scotland legitimating all children born be- 

their parents', renders the actual date of the 

ceremonies of the church are considered as 

rebuke fo'r their conduct", in the face of their 
respective congregations, which is not, bow- 



on, on the subject of marriage the rever, 
, is true. Irregular marriages, it m E 
urally supposed, are often improvidei 
n whatever rank of society they occui 



and appearance of the Scot 



reached Scotland later than England; : 
though their advance has been rapid there, 



| The legitimation of children, by subsequent 

iperors. It was the canon law of 
nodern Europe, and has been established in 
Scotland from a very remote period. Thus a 
hild bom a bastard, if his parents afterwards 
narry, enjoys all the privileges of seniority 



England, and it was on this occasion that the 
Barons made the noted answer, since so often 
appealed to ; Quod nolunl leges Angli<e mulare ; 
0'itE hue usque usitate sunt approbate. With 

of" Scotland, as explained above, differs from 
the Roman law, which required the ceremony 
lo be performed infaeie etdeste. 



DIAJ10-ND CABINET LIBRARY. 

ir appearance in these respects 
1. the appearance of their conn 



ecurity of property c 



1i i " 1 . ur"i"'„] r 

f.ccdtiie ;ul,,.f peace, and at certain periods, 

i.-h e< u..e;.= on those of llie more powerfu 






characteristic of the nation at large.' T> 
the source of many pleasures, it count. 



:ounlries, must have known many striking in- 

Since the Union, the manners and language 
of the people of Scotland have no longer a stan- 
■'--' among themselves, but are tried by the 



Hume, who lived for 



on of "the v.: JWof labour appli 


ed to the 


t and comfort of those whos 


days of 




f attach. 


xtu.doibrouelialliheco.i-e-.tic 






a ■■: clia- 




was also 


V tine uied with another strikii 


g feature 


belongs to thetn.-a partial.!} 


for his 


country, of which many proofs 


may be 


n his writings. This, it nius 


be ccn- 










its character, according to the 
















attachment to the land of their 


birth is. 


, common to all men. It is fou 


d »«,,. 


learcticto the'aiOare^ccircle, 


in all the 


ariety of climate, of surface, Jf 




To analyze this general sent 




t through the mazes of associal 


on up to 



anally. In 1T7T, it did not reach L. Si, 000. uieut strong in proportion to the physical 
The rate of the duty has indeed be... raised, aiUantege of the soil; tut inquiry, far from 
lu>, mating every allowance, the increase of continuing this supposition, seems rather lo 
consumption must be enormous. This i, in- had to.-,,, opposite conclusion.-!.! those fertile 
depend, lit of the duty on malt, &c. malt liquor, 'regions where beneficent nature yields almost 
imported spirits, and wine. spoulauecusly whatever is necessary to human 



BURNS PREFATORY REMARKS. 



rooutries tcsfl richlj endowed, where tlie coin- 
forts, aud even necessaries of life, must be pur- 
chased by patient toil, the affections of the 
mind, as the faculties of the understanding, 
impiove under exertion, and patriotism flour- 
ishes amidst its kindred virtues. Where it is 
necessary to combine for mutual defence as well 

good-will spi ifficu'lties and 

labours, the social ; lectio. is unfold themselves, 
aud extend from the men with whom we live, 
to the soil in which we tread. It will perhaps 
be found, indeed, that our affections cannot be 
originally called forth, but by objects capable, 
or supposed capable, of feeling our sentiments, 

pauded by the powers of imagination, aud seize 
creation, which form the theatre on which »e 



than' in'Ta^ge ones, S for"i£e"saine realou^and 
also because the independence of a small com- 
munity being maintained with ditLcuity, and 

ous countiie- i more active 

than in plains, because there the necessities of 
life often require a closer union of the inhabi- 
tants ; and more especially because in such 

countries tlnn-h i, ■„ populous than plains, the 



peculiarly calculated to 



affections of ti 

from their natural strength, inferi 

effort against oppression. Such 



lional music. By this combination, the ties 
tL.it attach men to the land of their birth are 

imancj. stron:.-!, a-,o,aati n- ■,, iih tile generous 






)its high powers of ii 
fhifco^y^an 



and to concentrate the social aflections amidst invidiously on those faults and failing which 
scenery that acts most powerfully on the sight, justice forbids us to conceal; we will tread 



ay also be remarked, that 



it shelter his untimely gra' 



LIFE 



ROBERT BURNS. 



•11 known, the 

i°to Jamaica. 



ROBERT BTJRXS v, 
eon of a farmer in / 
himself a farmer there 

He* had piously, 

notice .by his poetical talents in the vicinity 
where he lived; and having published a small 

quence of the encouragement he received, he 
repaired to Edinburgh, and there publish' J, by 

success. By the profits arising from the sale 
of this edition, he was enabled to enter on a 
farm in Dumfries-shire ; and having married a 
person to whom he had been long attached, he 
retired to devote the remainder of his life to 



eighth year. 

The strength and originality of his genius 

tinguished in the republic of letters, and, among 
others, that of Dr Moore, well known for his 
Heirs ,-, Scchh- and Manners cm th c Continent 
of Europe, for his Zeluco, and various other 
works. To this gentleman our poet addressed 
a letter, after his first visit to Edinburgh, giv- 
ing a history of his life, up to the period of his 
writing. ^ In a composition never intended to 

composition will not be expected. These, h iw- 
ever, will be compensated by the opportunity of 

life, unfold the peculiarities of his character 
'« Sir, ilauchiine, 2d August, 17S7 



eh. To divert my 
ble fog of ennui, I 



I think a faithful a, 



t of what charac 



So\oin i,', v ho-e chr.r.-.cte'r, except in the trifling 



frequently shaken hands with their intoxicating 
friendship. . . . After you have perused 
these pages, should you think them trifling and 
impertinent, I only beg leave to tell you, that 

do ; a predicament he has more than^once been 
in before. 

quaintedin the Herald's Office; and, looking 



'iVy ancient but ignol 
las crept through sc 
flood." 



indrels e 



for most of mi wisdom— I 

have met with few who understood men, their 
manners, and their ways, equal to him ; but 

ungovernable 'iras=ihilit.Y°are oisqualifving cir- 
cumstances; consequently I was born a very 

years of my life, my father was a gardener to a 

bourhood of Ayr. Had he continued in that 



DIAMOND CABINET L12P.ARY 



ister some thrashings, I made an 
excellent English scholar; and by the time I 

infant and boyish days, too, I 
sided in " 

a the country of tales 5 a 



This cultivated the 



d though nobody can 
Jbrt of philosophy to 



ition that I recoiled 



• For th-.ugh on dreadful whirls w 



ever read since, were, Tiv Lifcm ih„iul,-il, 
iiil 7Vie IL, lory r.f ■'-■!> V^iV.iam Wallace 
Hannibal gave my young ideas such a turn, 



after 



™W\ 



judics 



Wallace poured a Scottish pre 
y veins, which will boil alonj 
lood-gates of life shut in eterua 

"' Polemical divinity about this time wai 
tutting the country half- mad ; and 1, ambitiou: 



were perhaps born in the same village. My 
young superiors never insulted the clouterly 
appearance of my plough-boy carcase, the two 

exn-em.-s of v, !,i..-,i wen- eUc-u t;:posed !o all the 



.ing with these my young friends 
s. as they occasionally went off 



rtune, we fell into the 
y"r ..:'•. of Turn Dogs. 



My father was 

labour" My fi -. on irritated? 



We lived very poorly , I was a dexterous 
ploughman for my age ; and the next eldest to 
me was a brother (Gilbert) who could drive 

the corn! A novel -writer might perhaps have 



Rhyme. You know our country custom of 



rs 


in tl 




rs of ha 




In my 


tee 










vitching 






year ;,', 






f. My 




"U i 


Eiuli.-I 






ing 




that lang 


uage; 




''•] 


ivl 


icotiish 




IT J 


ogether, 






to her 








lie 






hich, insp 


te of 








t, gio-h 






d book- 




phil 


sophy, 




lV'iu. 


lirst of 




,1 j,,... 




est ble =! i, 


g her. 










...■■■. 


1 cai, 


lot tell : 






people 




il.fe.-t 


on from 










■h, i:c 






expr 






ideed, I 






v myself 


why I lik 










1 Willi 1 






g in the 




ug fro 








ones of 






aJe my 










;lp 




arti-.'.lar!. 


why . 
l I loo 


y pulse 


le. 


t t.i 


-J'",' 




: p a';; 


ong her 



1 was not so presumptnons as to imagine that I 
could make verses like printed ones, composed 
by men who had Greek and Latin ; but my girl 
sung a song, v, ' ' - 









-LIFE. 13 

"Thus with me began love and poetry; 

within the last twelve months have been my 
highest enjoyment. My father struggled on till 
he reacnec the freedom in his lease, when he 
entered on a larger farm, about ten miles far- 



than myself.* 



tional. As 
scholastic ed 
his performan 






ired at a plough-tail, 
le strongly tinctured 
lished rustic way of life ; but as, I 
believe, they are really his own, it may be some 



feels, under the pressure of love, ambition, 

anxiety, grief, with the like cures and passions, 

manners of life, ur.cr-.te pivtiy much alike, I 

•' Pleasing, when youth is long expired, to 

The forms our pencil or our pen design 'd, 

Such was our youthful air, and shape, and face, 

Such the soft image of our youthful mind. " 



This MS. book, to which our poet prefixed 
this account of himself, and of his .mention in 

The song alluded to is 



Ay, and I love her still. 
Ana whilst that virtue warms my breast, 

Tal lal de ral, rj-c. 

As bcnnie lasses I hae seen, 

modest gracefu'' mien 



three years loosing and whirling in the 

t of litigation, .■■-;. tailor was just saved 

from the horrors of a jail bv a consumption, 

"ch, after two years' "promises, kindly 

ped in, and carried him away, to where the 



of the world. What I knew of ancient 
. was gathered from Salmons and Gutlirie's 
geographical grammars ; and the ideas I had 

ism, 1 got from the 'Spectator. These, 



British Gardener's Directory, Bale's Lec- 

tares. Allan iiae.s -.,'.- Vv'o. ,. = , Trior's Sn;i p- 

tionefhul* > i 1 , Mi-uilatumt, 

had 'formed the whole of my reading. The 



'.In,.-, from 
n. I am convinced I ( 
:h of my critic craft, si 



The like 1 



will conf. 



She's no a lass for me. 
Eut Nelly's looks are blithe and sweet. 



Both decent and 
Gars^n/dressi 



'Tis t'.: : s in Xellv pleases me, 
'Tis this enchants my soul ; 
For absolutely™ my breast 

Tal lal de ral, <?-c. 

It trust be confessed that these lines give ni 
indication of the future erenius of Bums; bu 
he himself seems lo have been fond of them 
probably from the recollections they excited. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



My father, as I said 






h,h/ ; 



ntry life; for ll.oi 
Will o' "Wiap meteors" of thoughtless 

years afterwards within the line of innocence. 
aim/ThadieltT"" 



= C;.cops 



.ind gro, 



was, that I spent mj nineteenth summer on a 
smuggling coast, a good distance from home, 
at a noted school, to learn mensuration, sane;. 
!-.', diilfiqg, &,-. in which I made a pretty 

in the knowledge of mankind. The contraband 



, though I learnt to fill my glass, 
without fear in a drunken squabbl 
on with a high hand with mv ge 
be sun entered Virgo, a month « 



petual labour. The only two openings by wbicl 
I could enter the temple of Fortune, was th< 
gate of niggardly economy, or the path of littli 



these incentives to social life, my reputatir '- 
bookish knowledge, a certain wild lc 
ta'.ent, and a strength of thought, some 



of Europe.— The 



rigues of half tl 
• goose-feather 
nctively the we! 






ing jVelie who lived next door to the school, 
overset my trigonometry, and sent me off at a 
tangent from the sphere of mv studies. I, 
however, struggled on with my sines and co- 
sines:, for a few days more ; but stepping into 
the garden one charging noon to take the sun a 

" Like Proserpine gathering flowers, 

" It was in vain to think of doing any more 
rood at school. The remaining week I staid. I 
did nothing but craze the faculties of my soul 

two nights of my stay in the country, had sleep 
3 een a mortal sin, the image of this modest and 



generally a wel- 


innocent girl had kept me guiltless. 


any great wonder 


" I relumed home very considerably improv- 














main. My heart 


new phasis: and I engaged several of my 


s eternally lighted 


den«with°me '° This I'm roved m?-" ' X. 






my fortune was 
ived with favour, 


tion. I had met with a collection , 1 


the wits of Queen Anne's reign, and I pored 


with a repulse. 










parison between them and the composition of 


d farther for my 


most of mv correspondents flattered mv vanity. 


ctual exercise, I 


I carried this whim so far, that though I had 




not three farthings worth of business in the 


carries on a love 


world yet almost every post brought me as 



n Shandy and' The Man of 



till a darling walk for my min 

aVhour." *1 bad usua'lly'half a 
ieces on hand ; I took up one 
uited the momentary tone , 



ordered on fatigue 
hen once lighted up, raged liki 
, till they got vent in rhyme: 



spell, soothed nil into quiet ! None of the 
rhymes of those days are 'n print, except Wri- 
ter, a Dirge, the oldest of my printed pieces j 
The Death of Poor Mailie, John Bailey, 
corn, and Songs, first, second, and thi.d. 
Sonj second was the ebullition of that passion 



BURNS. 

which ended the forementioned school 



•• My twenty-third year was to"me an impor 
tant era. Partly through whim, and partly tha 
I wished to set'about doing something in life, i 
joined a flax-dresser in a neighbouring towi 
(Irvine) to learn his trade. This was an un 

luckv affair. My ; and, to finisl 

the whole, as we were giving - — 



2nd I w 



) took fire 



—LIFE. is 

his all went among the hell-hounds that growl 
in the kennel of justice ; but we made a shift to 
tie money in the family amongst ns, 
with which, to keep us together, my brother 
and I took a neighbouring farm. My brother 



uy superior. 

'• I entered on this farm with a full resolu. 
ion. Come, go to, I will be wise ! I read farm. 

.l-i, ; a,i,:\i, s lu>.-r. is -iuu'Jihc dtril. ami the 
corld, and the f.esh, 1 believe I should have 

uuately buving 'bad seed, the second, from a 
ate harvest, we lost half our crop,. This 
iverset all my wisdom, and I returned, like the 
tog to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to 



who have got their mittimus— Depart from me, 

of a town life; but the principal thing which 
)le character. 



the neighbourly 
agergave taim.a 


taking him under his pulron- 
enteel education, wilh a view 


dying just as he 
the world, the p 


jor fellow in despair went to 
a variety of good and ill for- 



master of a large West Indiaman belonging to 
the Thames. 



fool than myself, where woman was the pre- 

l sailor. whfch "hitherto I had regarded 
with" horror. Here his friendship did me a 
mischief; and the consequence was that soon 
after I resumed the plough, I wrote tie Poet's 
Welcome.* My reading only increased, while 
in this town, by two stray volumes of F r.cU and 

some idea of novels. Rhyme, except some 



t At the time that our poet took the resolution 

blank paper, wilh the purpose (expressed in the 
first page) of making' memorandums upon it. 

enough ; man/of tbem have been written with 
a pencil, and are now obliterated, or at least 

It must be premised, that the poet kept the book 



EXTEMPORE. AprU, 17S2. 

why the deuce should I repine, 

And be an ill foreboder r 
I'm twenty-three, and five feet nine— 
1'llgoandbeasodger. 



FRAGMENT. Tunc—' Donald Blue" 
O leave novels, ye Mauchline belles, 



Your fine Tom Jones and Grandisons, 
They make your youthful fancies reel, 

They heat your brains, and fire your veins, 
And then you're prey for Rob Mossgiel. 

Beware a tongue that's smoothly hung; 

A heart that warmly seeks to feel ; 
That feeling heart but acts a part, 

'Tis rakish art in Rob Mossgiel. . 

The frank address, the soft cares?, 
Are worse than poison 'd darts of steel, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



«« I now began to be known in the neighbou 
hood as a maker of rhymes. The first of n 



I could n 


t guess who was the author of it but 


that I the 






n of the clergy, as well a* Ir.itv. it met 


with a ro 


ar of applause. Holy Willie's Prnyei 
















of it might be pointed against profane 


rhymers. 


Unluckily for me, my wandering, 




another sine, within point 


Btor/tha 




Lament. 


This was a most melancholy affair, 














ost the 





For he's far a^oon Dunkel' the nigh' 
Maun while the stick and a' that. 

Mm.- To get for Mr Johnston t 

' Molly, Molly, my dear honey. '—' 
and the hat, the deer in her den,' 4c. 



'ford, the author of Down 



My apron Deny l and Amynta, by S 


r G. 


Willie teas a wanton Wag, wag mad 


„ on 


>.ilk; n ,hawof Walkinshaw. near Paisiet 




J lo'e na a laddie but one, Mr Clunz' s. 




The bonnle wee (Aing-beautiful— Lirn 


die's 


He till't end she till '/— assez bien. 




Armstrong's Farewell -fine. 




The au'hor of the Highland Queen was 


Mr 






Fife and a' the land abo it it, R. Fer«-iiso 




The author of The Bush aboon Traipiait 


was 


Polwarlun tlir Green, composed by Ca 


tnin 


ohn Uriiinn.ond M'Co-.-nr. of L'oeV.ldi.... 




M-m.—To inquire if Mr Cockbura wa. 


the 


Jthor oUha'e seen the smiling, &c. 





The above may serve 



Rationality.* 1 


gave up m 


y part of 


the farm 


to my 




n truth it was only n 


omiaally 






what little 


preparatio 




my po 


ver for .1 


amaica. But, I 












.publish 


my poems. 












power: [ 




Iftat I 


shouw'be 


and it w 
called a 


clever fell 


cm, idea 


thougl 


it should 


never reac 


h try ears 


—a poor 


'■'■■'- 


' leant 


e nd P »o 


at pout-re 


world of 
inconmi 








nearly as 




ideao 


mvself a 


od my wor 








t, when t 






in their 




It ever 






the mis- 


takes s 


nd blunde 


rs. both in 








oiulof ,i 


w, of whi 


h we see thousa: 


daily 


juilty, ar 


owing to 


their ign 


rance of 


thems 


Ives. Tc 




self, had 




alone" 


Tbalauc'e 


d n S£ 


I weigh. 


d myseif 
Iwatch- 








owmuch 




■ 






poet: 1 


,tU.lo- 


assiduou 


US 


and' shade 


'■J 'my 




worst, the roa 


the Allan 


c would 










=v !i; y of 




ndian sec 




e forget „e 


-Tie.-. I 


threw 

- . : s 


off six hu 

bsoriptioa 


for aboul 




h 1 had 
dred and 




My vani 


y was highly gratifie 


i by the 










and be. 


sides 1 




all expens 




'• near £ 












ably, ' 




thinking c 


f indenting myself, 


soon'a 


"ilvasTn 


y to procu 


e my pass 


tCpr.ce- 


of waf 










age pa 




ro- lir-t sh 






from t 


le Clyde ; 


for 






" 


Hungry r 


uin had m 


in the wi 


li" 


'• I 


had been 


for some 


ays skulk 


ng from 






indcr all tl 




f a jail; 




e iil-ad ; . 


sed people 


had unco 


pled the 










I had 




he li: fa 


en!l of o 






chest was on the 


road to Gr 
















nia, The 










letter fro 


n \>r Blac 




friend of 










opening 


Dolto? 


n '. 


o my poet 


critics, f 


n. The 


applau 






hope. Hi 




that I 


. The ba 

tin- iniii 


t with enco 
d edition, 
ted for th 

eful star If 


fired me s 
""zenith" 


in'tdm- 
for once 








lae'ir ; am 


a kind 








r the pair 


o ?a g= of 


one of 


the noble 


st of men. 


the Earl 




* A 


a explana 


on of this 


will be lb; 


ndher. 



BUR??S.— LIFE. 



cairn. Oublie mot, Grand Dieu, si jamais i 
i'oubliet 

•• I Deed relate no farther. _ At Edinburgh ] 

classes of men, but all of them new to me, ant 



r very elegant and friendly letter 
iswer at present, as my presence 
n Edinburgh, and I set out to-ruo 



Al the period of our poet's death, his bro- 
ther, Gilbert Burns, was ignorant that he had 
him, fif written the foregoing narrative of his- 

plied to by Mrs Dunlop for some memoirs of 
l.is brother, he complied with her request in a 
letter, from which the following narrative is 
ehiefly extracted. When Gilbert Burns after- 
wards saw the letter of our poet to l)r .Moore, 
he made some annotations upon it, wnich shall 

e Robert B^n^wasTorn on the 29th day of 
January, 1759, in a small house about two 
miles from the town of Ayr, and within a few 
hundred yards of Alloway Church, which his 

tal.f The name which the poet and his bro- 
ther modernized into Burns, was orurinally 
Furr.os or Burness. Their father. William 
iiuniH, was the ,on of a farmer in r.inearc.ine- 
shire, and had received the education common 
in Scotland to persons in his condition of life : 
he could read and write, and had some know- 
ledge of arithmetic. His family havL.j fail..: 
into reduced circumstances, he'was compelled 

elder brother Robert. " I have often heard 
mv father," says Gilbert Burns, in his letter 
to' Mrs Dunlop, "".describe the anguish of mind 
lie fit when they parted on the top of a hill on 
the confines of their native place, <"ich going 
o-T ias several wav in search ,-■.' :.- w aa-. e.'iiures. 
and scarcely knowing whither he went. My 
father undertook to act as a gardener, aad shap- 
ed his course to Edinburgh, where he wrought 



hard when he could get work, passing t] 
a variety of difficulties. Still, howev 
endeavoured to spare something for the s 



of Fan-lev, \ 
he lived two years ; then changing his service 
for that of Crawford of Doonside. At length, 
being desirous of settling in life, he took a per- 
petual lease of seven acres of land from Dr 



born. Thons 

he lived in his own hoi 

her family and little d 



r 175o. His ,...i Hub 



V a person of the name of Campbell ; but this 



tcr of the workhouse at .V . r, w'il'iia 




in conjunction with some other head 




lies, engaged John Murdoch in his st 




education of our poet, and olhis broth 


er Gilbert, 


» in ■:.,;.■,»«,; and of their profici 




Mr Murdoch we iia-e the following 




" With him we learnt to read Engl 


sh tolera- 


bly well, i and to write a little. He 


laUfrlltu,. 


• o, ; ::■ ._ .... _.-. ._•_■, .,-. : ..-.a.- 




to profit much from his lessons in 




but Robert made some proficiency in 




can. stance of c.fci leracie wcigut 






as he soon 


became remarkable fur the fluency a 






ew b .ok s 


that came in his way with much pi 


asur- and 



lent him The Life of 
and almost 1he only' oi 
Life of'watlace, whic 



n the risrht hand side of th 
iaybo'.e, "which forms a pal 



X Letter from Gilbert Burns to Mrs Dunlop. 



ig DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

Li" nap.'.'l'C Mr !■'". r_-L ..','■ U-.= -.1 l.;m a i^,u° " could be more retired than our general mttii- 



', '!' ' i'rt' t,V, 
ervvard, forty-uve p, ' 



elmld properly, for the | ofth 



drcu pounds' fo'^lhai purpose ." He remold 'to j Mj father v. .most the only 

iilVe aliou at V.l 1 It I II rscd familiarly | 



the farm, my fail 
light ; and in this i 









tuous habits. He borrowed Sa 
phical Grammar for us, and 
make - 



■y of thediiicrcnt countries in the world; 
■uile, from a book society in Ayr, lie procured 
.r us the reading of DerhimS Physico and 

,i-I i i _ , aud Uaj/'s Wndomnf God m 



urn of Engli 






nail 



iiyl. 



scarcely 1, 



?J~2 g y/e"w ' r iieVuie! from'th! RobernoL'cUd^ competeufk'non-I 



tears. A female in the play (I h 






ne arithmetic by ou 
enf. into a hooka" ' 



with one voice desired he would read" no more, sliop in Ayr, to purclm-e Tiie Heady Reckoner 
— ■ Luckily, in place of 1'Jl 



h us. Robert replied, t 



left The School f<Wv.tv, a comedy (translated, 
1 think, from the French), m its place, "t 



"My brother was about Urn-teen or foui 

en u.j father, r. -retting that lie wrote 









and Chiron,, with Lavinia 



BURNS LIFE. 



Ferdinand Courd Fathom, and 
of Peregrine Pickle excepted), 
■with Robertson, and almost all 



country, and hav 
in Dumfries, cami 
of the English 1 



The 



cannot now recollect, tut they all ei 

man ! though foreign to my r . 

Future history. He continued I 
rejected and useful teacher 
svening- that he had been overt 
le happened to speak somewha 
)f lir'Dahymple, the pari-h mi 



,1 htm that 



self e 



In Ayr he might as w«l 
asphemy. He found i, proper 



m'r, 'l * . , ', 

The father of i<r Pr.u, 



father s former friend-hii 

p°owi r for'cut , ■ ' t \ ' '.. 1 
works, and some other poetry, the first that w. 

the volume of The Edinburgh Magazine foi 
1772; excepting also these ern lie:.' ,., u- tongs shite, an J v, as oik- of the established teachers 
that are bav. Led about the country in baskets, | in Ayr when mi father settled in the neighbour- 
or exposed on stalls ia the streets. | hood. He eagerly recognised my father as a 

" The summer after we had been at Dalrym- fti! .v.- native o, the north o; rcotland, and a cer- 

'' ' er j during .Mr Paterson's life. "After his death, his 



■, and the Adventure, of Telema. 
iginal. lu a little while, by the 
these books, he acquired such a 

red _ as a sort of prodigy, and 

"time gabbling French, and the 



advice, he'purtl_< I 1. t tt 

L;tin Tongue, but finding this study dry and 

little chagrin rr d: f a7.;...;:.r!i;ct.1, nnrti^'ariy 



u-ish of Ayr, is all 

proof of this [« 



rent paid for it by my 



erted tl 



Mv brother, at the age cf ihiitcc-n, assisted in 
ihre-hing the cr.. P of corn, and at fifteen 

\1~).".. ,Vl ! 1 -"„'-.' n'lie'c/'female. 
The anrrt-.i.h of mind we iV.t at our tender 

r It - i f . broken doWn 

with the long ccntimi-d f.t;-"i..s of his life, 
with his wife end live other children, and in 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

er's mini and m 



w of this period of 



bed, in the night-t 

••By a siipulat 

iad a right to thro 



k the farm of Lochlea, of 130 acr« 



decision involved my father's affairs in ruin. 
He lived to know of this decision, bat not to 
see any execution in consequence of it. He 
died on the }3th of February, 1784. 

"The seven years we lived in Tarbolton 
parish (extending from the seventeenth to Uk 



;Iebraled Sappho. I n 



ns^but as Yonck' 



gan, therefore, to think of trying some other 
line of life. He and I bad for several years 
taken land of my father for the purpose of 

nf selling it, Robert began to think of turning 



ling. He accordingly 






jrepared him for overleaping the boun 
igid virtue which bad hitherto restrained 
I'owtrdi the end of the period under r< 

ieatb, he was fi iubjectofhia 

epistle to John Rankin. During this period 

io not recollect, durins these seven years, m 
ill towards the t 



■mpanv), to bi 



,rity occ; 



sobriety ol 






rrily concer 
well as <1 

.ctilea. Lis 
cecded his 



u;. mi- Lmviiin. with ih. I 

part of our original slock. II was 

these four years Ihat RrAcrl formed h 



e of the leading eir'uii 
ler's early life. The r 
: in Edinburgh or nun 



: engage with a family ic 



It was 



d ther 



fore between 

legal acknowledgment of an irregular and 
Triage; that he should go to Jamaica, 

with her father till 'it might please Providence 
to put the means of supporting a family in his 
power. 

"Mrs Burns -was a great favourite of her 
father's. The intimation of a private marriage 
was the first suggestion he received of her real 
situation. He was in the greatest distress, and 

him to make the mattaw; betteVThus- 

itual bar 'to 



■ prospects of a 



it the i 



celled, and thus the marriage rendered void. 

ir 'wish was 
mentioned to Robert. He felt the deepest 
anguish of mind. He offered to stay at home 
and provide for his wife and family in the best 
manner that his daily labours could provide for 

did not approve of; for 
humble as Miss Armour's station was, and 
great though her imprudence had been, she 
still, in the eyes of her partial parents, might 

my friendless and unhappy brother, at that 

at length cons shes ; but bis 

feelings on this occasion were of the most dis- 
tracting nature: and the impression of sorrow 
was not effaced, till by a regular marriage thev 
H ere indissolabl; united. In the state of mind 

leave the country as soon as possible, and agreed 



some time, Mr Hamilton advised him to publi 

a likely way of getting a little money to provi 
biro more liberally in necessaries for Jamaic 
Agreeably to this advice, subscription bills 



mmediately, and the 



rose from the 


Ji,tr 


ss ant 


forr 


ow in 


e had involve 


1 his 




wife. 
















*ingu 








ader will perc 




rom I 


e for 




, how much the ch 




.I V« 




were indebted 




r "taik 


r, wb 




a man of un 






is; though 


ot appear that 


..', tol 


T£$ 


any p 

the 


: rl ;:^ 








. 1 




observed by c 


urpo 










ami 


athy 






o a nhimhis h df 


v C'..l 




ne of 


, ll S! 


n this observa 
















tied 




= dit :— " I w 


nder 


how Robert 




to our father 




asting 






oing to a dan 




chool 


Dial, 


st his 














ab.iu 


t this 




1 - ^ 


- dangerous im 


[i-lllO 


it;, of 


.: U " 





counsel, which often irritated ria, father; and 
school was not likely to correct. But he was 



the family, in th 
Ayr and Kirk-( 
greatly delightet 

deed that dislik 



inces of sending him 
d schools ; and he * 
h his warmth of hca 
1 powers. He had 

sofor' overcameU dur 
of attendance, that 







gelS. 
'—The 


Thus, Madam, have I endeavoured to give 


coupled 
security 
children, 
timate by 


for = lhe 



22 DIAMOND CAEI.CET I.I2KARY. 

loyul and didoyd I tale to be merely relative The father of our poet is described by one who 



■,as 'wark US A."ton y e 'says°i 



Ihe letter, at the desire of G 



"I do not kno 



i- account he has given of the Jacobitism of 
is ancestors.- I believe the Earl of Warischal 
irt'eited his title and estate in 1715, before my 
ither was born ; and among a collection of 
irish-certincaies in his possession, 1 have read 
le, stating that the bearer had no concern in 
le lite Kicked rvl.d:, -■„,.•' On the information of 
.e who knew William Eurnes soon after he ar- 



* There is another observation of Gilben 
Burns on his brother's narrative, in whicl 

" .My brother, '" says Gilbert" Burns, "seem; 
to set oil" his early companions in too eonsequem 
tial a manner. The principal acquaintance w« 
had in Ayr, while boys, were four sons of Mr 
Andrew Jl'Culloeh, "a distant relation of my 



the person, whose heart my brother says thl 
Munny Begum scenes could not corrupt. Thi 
other, by the interest of Lady Wallace, got a, 
etisigncy in a regiment raised by the duke of 



h the bene- 
have led him to 
of the Scottish 



The cheerful supper done, with serious face, 
They, round the ingle, form a circle wide; 

The si're turns o'er, with patriarchal grace, 
The Lie hclt-EMe, once his father's pride: 

His hart haflets wearing thin and bare; 

oie glider ■ once ' sweet ia 

And "Let us worship God f'» lie'says wlth'so- 

They chant their artless notes in simple guise; 
Tney tune their hearts, by far the noblest 

Perhaps Dundee's t wild warbling measures 

Or plaintive Marlyrsi worthy of the name ; 
Or noble Elgin f beets (he heavenly (lame. 

Compared with ;1.:~;. Iiai an "rills are tame ; 
The tickled ears no heartfelt raptures raise ; 



Or, Job's pathetic plaint, and wailing cry ; 






ere used by William 1 
ir variety. 

-se of family dev, 



Scots is, i.rsl to sing a psalm, then to read a 
portion of scripture, and lastly to kneel down 



BURNS. -LIFE. 









n Palmos banished, 






Then homeward all take oi 
Tb? e are nt IS - 



But chiefly ii 
preside 

OF a family sc 



Ihe preceptor of our poet, who, in a letter to 

.losepn Cooper Walker, Esq. of Dublin, amber 
of the Historical Memoir of I he Italian Tragedy, 
lately published, thus expresses himself: 



e Ayrshire poet. My bi 



tea or twelve years before I knew him, 
had been in the service of Mr Crawfo 
Doonside. He was afterwards employed 
gardener and overseer by Provost Fergus. 
Doonholm, in the parish' of Alloway, whi 



le road side, a Scotch mile and n haT from 
town of Ayr, and half a mile from the 
jeof Doon, William Burnes took a piece 



dweUing^of wnich'VTlliara Barnes" w; 

architect. It was, with the exception of , 

mean 'cottage, of which i myself ysas at 



'• In 1765, about the middle of March. Mr 

[ool where Was i ',' 

good friend Mr Kubisun, des.ring tbat 1 



, few yards from ,be argLlaceous fat.; 



ighlee... Robert and his younger b.o.her 
Jilberl, had been grounded a little in English 



in ihe schools were the Spelling Bool.; the A' cU > 

Tirtann-nl, the Bible Mason's Volit . !.o, : ,- f 
Prose and .Verse, and Fisher's English Gram- 

common facility. This facility 'was partly 

me in instruct ' lis :Ue"K v.hi'-l. was, to make 
them thorougniy acquainted with ibe meaning 

commuted to memory. Bj Ihe bye, this may 

synonymous expressions for poetical words, and 
to supply all the ellipses. 'Jhese, you know, 
are the means of knowing that the pupil under- 
stands his author. Tbese are excellent helps to 



UIAMOVD CAB! 
livelj imagination, and to be more of the | 



ughtfnl mind. Gilbert's face said. Mirth., 
h theejmam to live; and certainly, if any 

iehoftbeui was the mjst'likely to court the 
ses, be would surely never ha.e guessed that 
Dert had a propens.ty of that kind. 
' In the year 1737, .Mr Barnes quitted his 
i ed.fice. and took possession of a farm 
wnt Olipba.it) of his own improving, while 
he service of Provost Ferguson. This farm 
lg at a considerable distance from the school, 



teach the English school at Ayr; and iu 1773, 
Robert Burns came to board and lodge with 



he name of a French town, ship, oKeer, or 'hi 
ike, in the newspapers, he might be able t< 



N T ET LIBRARY. 

lyself, that good William B 






i .)f ill. 


A : :--dures of TtUmachus, in Fe- 




words. 




v the plains of Mount Oliphant be- 




en, and Robert was summoned to 


;..:,il ! 


le pleasing scenes that surrounded 




"Calypso, and, armed with a sickle, 








and so he did°; for although Out 




, I was told that he performed the 


ijl w. ! . 


I deprived of my very apt pupil, 






of thr 






te study of English, and the other 



philosophy, or some such interesting subject. 



II the house affairs would draw her 



and. At all 



When 



r the 



the good-man had said. This worthy woman, 
Agnes Brown, had the most thorough esteem 

lia'm Burnes as by far the best of the 
human race that ever I had the pleasure of be- 
ing acquainted with —and many a worthy 
character I have known. I can cheerfully join 
with Robert in the last line of his epitaph 
(borrowed from Goldsmith), 

' Aj.d ev'n his failings leau'd to virtue's side, 

«' He was an excellent husband, if I may 



fore, when he did rebuke, he was listened to 
approbation was felt ; a reproof was severely 

skirC '.("the coat, zave heart-fell pain, produced 



" He had the art of gaining the esteem and 
good-will of those that were labourers on*- 



be to the advantage of the rising gener- 
As he was at no time overbearing to 
rs, he was equally incapable of that 
:, pitiful, paltry spirit, that induces sooi» 



BUR.SS.— LIFE. 



people to keep booing and booing in the pt 
of a great man. He always treated su- 






ed, for the good c 
customary to honoi 
of those who excel 



urs. I do. 



my Utile : 

—*t s reat " 

3t Dr Ten 






in the East Indies. He is a man of genius and 

«« Mr Burnes, in a' short time, found that he 
had overrated Mount Oliphant, and that he 
could not rear his numerous family upon it. - 

Lochlea, in Hon, where, X 

" But here, sir, you will permit me to pause. 
I can tell you but little more relative to our 
poet. I shall, however ,^ in my next, send you 

year' P i7S3. OQ I r°ce;v4d e on e e r sm ce, but it is mis- 
laid. Please remember me, in the best man- 
ner, to my worthy friend Mr Adair, when you 

London, Feb. 22, 1799. " 



same subject. The three re'ati-jt.; s/.'ve, wiere- 
fore, not merely to illustrate, but to authenti- 
cate each other. Though the information they 
convey might have been presented within a 
shorter compass, by reducing the whole into 

more gratified by a sight of these original 

Under the humble roof of his parents, it 
appears indeed that our poet had great advan- 
tages ; but his opportunities o! iufurraition at 



:hool were more limited as 

ition of life ; and the ac 
lade, and the poetical tale. 



^ordiTar "toJTa* 
n his frame of body h 



of his body to the = labours of the farm, he re- 



on the deeds of ancient valour, or rapt 


,:\he 


illusions of Fancy, as her euchantmen 




:i i the Sunday is yet 


asub- 


bath, on which man and beast rest fron 




labours. On this day, therefore, Burns 


could 


indulge in a freer intercourse with the c 




of nature. It was his delight to wander 


alone 


on the banks of the Avr, whose stream 




immortal, and to listen to the song 


Df tha 


blackbird at the close of the summer' 


s day. 


But still greater was his pleasure, as he 






he-red 


side of a wood, in a cloudy winter da 


, and 



stride alonj its summit, while the lightning 
Hashed around him, and amidst the howlings 
of the tempest, to apostrophize the spirit of 

favourable' to devotion- " Rapt in enthusiasm, 

the wings of the wind .'" If other proofs were 
wanting of the character of his genius, this 
might determine it. The heart oi the poet is 
Deculiarly awake to every impression of beauty 
ith the higher order of poets 



H.fni'U 



•e than 



'he gaiety of many of I 
lively, and even cheerful colouring with 

j lead some persons to suppose, that the 
ancholy which hung over him towards the 
of his days, was not an original part of his 

bat, independent of his 

o be found among his papers, that he was 
ject very early to those depressions of mind, 
ich are perhaps not wholly separable from 



to an uncommon degree. The following letter, 
addressed to his father, will serve as a proof of 
this observation. It was written at the tima 
when he was learning the business of a flax- 
dresser, and is dated 

Irviae, Dec. 27, 1781. 
" Honoured Sir, 
" I have purposely delayed writing, in the 



26 !>1A.MUNI> CALilsLi LILZARY. 

hope that T should have the pleasure < f seeing humble, though wholesome nutriment, it 
vou on New-year's daj ; Lut v.oik conns ;o appears was nearly exhausted, and tie was 
hard upon us, that I do r.ot choose to le alseut ;,Lout to borrow till lie should obtain a scpply. 

reasons, which I shall tell you at meeting. -Vy tion had formed to itself pictures of eminence 

health is nearly the same as when \cu were and distinction. His despair of mating a 

here, only my sleep is a little sounder, and, on figure in the world, shows how ardently he 

the whole, Ian. rather better than otherwise, wished for honourable fame ; and his contempt 

weakness of my nerves has so debilitated my expiosVci. of a youthful g<ue'rcus mind. In 

l.or look forward into futurity; for the least imagination of Euros naturally passed the dark 
anxiety or perturbation in my breast, produces boundaries of cur earthly horizon, and rested 
most unhappy effects on my whole frame, on those beautiful representations of a belter 

my spirits are a little lightened, I glimmer a ger, nor sorrow, and where happiness shall be 
little into futurity; but. my principal, and . in proportion to the capacity of happiness, 
indeed my only pleasurable' employment, is Such a disposition is far from being at 
looking backwards and forwards in amoral variance with social enjoyments. Those who 

1 shall bfd an eurn'.": a".'.:"ii : .'-'. 1 seeks relief in the endearments' of society, and 

life :'for"l assure vou I oi r o: cm.oT : ,- ;; ,\7r eV.':'. th. extravagance of 

and, if I do not very much deceive myself, I mirth. It was a few days after the writing ot 

! ing carousal to the new vear, with his gay 
' The soul, uneasy, and confined at home, 

1 The enerirv of Eurns' mind was i 

iions of his 



Rests and 


expatiates in a life to come.' 




and his shop to Le consumed to 
The energy of Eurns' mind w 


" It is fo 




sea 






h, 16th, audi 7th verses of the 


7th 


muse, his social pleasures, or hi 


chapter of K 


evelation, than with any ten ti 








es in the whole Bible, "and wc 






B the noble enthusiasm with wL 




debating club had been establisl 




me for all that this world ha 




resolved to try how such a meet 


offer. As 






ceed in the village of Tarboit 




ure in it. I am not formed for 


the 






busy, nor the flutter cf the gay 


I 


and five other young peasants ot 


suaYl't.Wr" 








such scenes 


C Indeed I am altogether unc 


on- 


s^,',hr'decla«d'c 1 |'j:o!s I ' , of a 



that po^ertv at t - wait me, and friendship, and to improve the mind, Mho 

and 1 am in some tnea-u. e f,r, par, a, and daily laws and .' . . . =!,ed ly Turns. 

and paper to return ;, , u n _, L : a' i„. thanks tor the day w ore ,r, , r, cr.ee a week, in a small 

the lessons of virtue and piety you have given pullic-house in Ihe village ; where each should 

me, which were too much neglected at the ofier his opinion on a ghen question or subject, 

time of giving them, but which, I hope, have supporting it by such arguments as he thought 



' HUBERT BURXS. " 



pence ; and, with the humble potation that 



Th 




er, 


written 


ev 


ral v 


ears befor 


the 


a 


ook, in 






nd regu 


_",; : 


pub! 




, of 








bis name 








ed, with 






ing 


pb.ls 


>'r 


V\- 


his cent 

: ',b Th r C 


'",', 


eianc 


s humble, 
holy whic 

p, ran em, 


cud 


sh 


riod. 
dently 


ry of their 
the work 


"of o°u C r U "p 






loin 


':'"■'' 


: i 


nd ambi 


I 


,f "it 


\i .--.,', 


nrrTe 


di 


co-.ered 


and it de 


serves a pi 












- 




; t , T d 


perhaps a 


the 




Hiflorv 


"flheRiFC 


Proceedingf, ami 


Reg* 


late 


; as 


Li,; 






Ho 


aesed Lis 








lima of th* 


Bachelors 


Club. 




food 


,'.!,. 








atr. C 


'.' 


him 




'Orb 


rlh or blood we do n. 


hoast. 




from 


bis 


"Ml 




ily 


Ml 


e store of 


Ibis 




]\o 


gentry do 


sour club 


.Cord ; 





BURNS. - LIKE. 



"As the great end of hum 

be the principal view of ever 
tion of life. But as experi 

exhaust the' faculties of l! 
■n found proper to relieve i 



/ l ( ' ' I r . 1 r i, [ 



only the faculie-'of th 


mind, but the nerves 


and sinews of the body, 


are so fatigued, that it 








to relieve the wearied 




the necessary labours 


of life. 




"As the best of th^n? 










it and diversion, men 


have plunged into all th 


5 madness of riot and 




life, the," have be^un 


with extravagance and 


folly, and ended with 






considerations, we. the 


following lads in the 


parish of Tarbolton, viz 


Hwh Reid, Robert 


Burns, Gilbert Burns 


Alexander Brown, 


litchel. Thoma 


Wright, and William 



we held our first meeting at Tarbolton, in the 
house of John Richard, upon the evenin- of the 
11th of November, 1750. commonl," called 
Haiowe'en, und af-r choo-ing Hubert Burns 
pr_-,ideut for the night, we proceeded to debate 
on this question • Supoo.e a young m in, bred 

power to'.narry either of two women, the one a 
girl of large fortune, out neither handsome in 
person, nor agreeable in conversation, but who 
can manage the household affairs of a farm well 
enough ; the other of them a girl every way 

happy in our sociely, we resolved to continue to 

ter we chose -another mem- 

ber. In May, 17S1, we brought in Ha-.il Sil- 
lar,*and in June, Adam Jamison as members. 
About the beginning of the year 1782. we ad- 
mitted .Matthew Patterson, and John Orr, and 
in June following we chose James Patierson as 
a proper brother "for such a society. The club 

Tarbolton on "the race night, the July follow- 



aour of our society. 



' 2-i \\ hen "the club is met, the pre- 

he failing, |S ome one of the metnbe, 









t shall cast lots who of then 



I d. liver his i n r, d t member near - 
the second member of "the sid?thVsp"ke 'first ; 



4th The club shall then proceed to the 
moiee of a question for the subject of next 
light's meetmg. The president sh .11 lii-t pro- 
log one, and any other member who chooses 

nembers, shall be the subject of debate next 

5th. "The club shall, lastly, elect a new pre- 
sident for the next meeting ; the president shall 



lother, and whoever of then 



DIAMOND CABINET iI3R.VRY. 



The philosophical mind w 



of the Bachelor's' Club of'Tarboltoi 
3 told. It survived several years aftei 

;d bv his talents, or cemented bylih 
iffeetioos, its meetings lost much o 
traction ; and at length, in an evil hour. 






he and his brother 
forming a sii 
lations of tl 



fines for non-attendance had at Tarbolton been 
spent in enlarging their scanty potations : at 
Mauchline it was fixed, that the money so aris- 

boo'ks ; and the first work procured in this 
manner was the Mirror, the separate numbers 
of which were at that time recently collected 
and published in volumes. After it followed a 
number of other works, cliielly of the same 
nature, and among these the Lounger. The 
society of .Mauchline still subsists, and was in 

works of it's celebrated associate. 

The members of these two societies were 
originally all young men from the country, and 
chiefly son, of t r a ipt.on of per- 



his share of the reckoning for the second ; tre- 
bling it for the third, and so on in proportion 

ever, that any member may speak at any time 
after leave asked and given by the president. 
All swearing and profane language, and par- 
ticularly all obscene and indecent conversation, 
is strictly prohibited, under the same penalty 
as aforesaid in the first clause of this article. 
7th. No 



of the t 
i brother 



any 



or laugh at any of the rest of the members, he 
shall be for ever excommunicated from the 



ind more susceptible of improvemen 

lie self-sufficient mechanic of count. 

Will deference to the Conversatioi 



The Alin or and the Lounger, though works of 
great merit, may be said, on a general view of 

the knowledge, than to refine the taste of those 
who read them ; and to this last object their 

fecTlfpure!mk;\ b e i tnl S id«r d e "s%"u 1 bTrdinar 



As w< 

acy; and t. 
g, that th( 



to a high degree of 
instance it is perhaps 






shall partake, and what company heshall keep. 



destrov the happiness of the pos: 
irrects that morbid sensibility, or, 
:pressiun of Mr Hume, that delic 



the parish of 4 a brother 

continued, if the majority of the club think 



the female sex. No haughty, selt 

the'res't of the club, and especially no mean- 
spirited, worldly mortal, whose only will is tr 
heap up money, shall upon any pretence what- 



BURNS— LIFE. 



«aut. had the delicacy of his laste equalled the 
sensibility of his passions, regulating all the 

his social enjoyments. Hut to the Thousands 
who share the original condition of Burns, and 



is bv v.Tii.-li 
Taste and 



pinch still more frequently obtain for them 

or even independence, when cultivated with 

sued with advantage bv the peasant in the short 
intervals of leisure which his occupations allow. 
Those who raise themselves from the condi- 
tion of daily labour, are usually men who excel 

habits of^udustry^nTsoLTiety^to an ac q °uain" 
tance with some of the more common branches 
of knowledge. The penmanship of Butter- 
worth, and the arithmetic of Cocker, maN be 



re not offered without 
and hesitation. 'Hie 



the imagination. The greater part of the >aor. ,1 
writings themselves, which in Scotland are 
more especially the manual of the poor, come 
under this description. It may be farther ob- 

p'ursue it. 'since it is the taste of the Scottish 
peasantry to give a preference to works of taste 
and of fancy.'-' It nittv 1 e presumed they find 
a superior gratification in the perusal of such 
works ; and it may be added, that it is of more 

■ . ■ 1 . iu. ' I , t ■ /< I -lied with the 
means, or with the desire, of rising above it. 
Such considerations are doubtless of much 
vveUht; nevertheless, lit- previous reflections 
may deserve to be examined, and here we shall 
leave the subject. 

Though the records of the society at Tarbol- 
ton are lost, and those of the society at Maueh- 



poorer classes in Scotland which the f.ditur 

great part. These societies are by no ok 
general, and it is not supposed that they 



tin- his sentiments, as well as of receir- 
ose of others ; and the powers of private 
rsation are to be employed, not those of 

i the subject of conversation is fixed 
hand, so that each member may revolve 
tiously in his mind, is perhaps one of the 

shortening the acquisition of knowledge, and 

hastening the evolution of talents. Such an 
'ation requires indeed somewhat more of 
ition than the rules of politeness est- 
imated conversation are liable to perpe- 

._.__ violation, should be vigorously enforced. 

The order of speech e>tab,i=h<d in the club at 






, i thi uji i « , \' in those wl 



DIAMOND CABI.NET LIBRARY. 



when established, teem as if liiey had ariseu 
spontaneously, but which, in truth, are the 
result of long and painful practice, atd when 



le they ,„ 



• emi«. 



of that early command of words, and of expres- 
thoughts in language not unworthy of hi 8 
nee in Edhibu^h'"^ 



ary.r For 
>ur poet a 
a.id happy had it 



dt-irr.e of y\hieh he was capable, so as to have 

his mind habits of utriiim (hat might have ex- 
aclinowlediied they were too often wasted, as 



ll as debased. 

The whole course of the Ayr is fine; but 
the banks of that river, as it bends to the east- 

may be" im.-zir.'.-j! 
auoreviaiintr ii.m: i.-jiiou, may, under ; by our poi-l in his scl.tary walks. Here the 
regulations, be highly useful. To the j n.use often visited him. I., one of these wan- 

Yof the west of Scott 
have not- whom 
auding, while confined to hinisel! 

'kind, where thev m.iv be eiamiu 
rise, isuf the »w'.o.l importance ; 






ires in discussions of 
•d the mo,t pleasing, 



lend from its usual c 
must' ii- Li, and the 
Vhether, in the humble societies of which 
irmation, may perhaps be tjiiestioned. It 
d be excited, that 



* When letters and philosophy were culti- 



i the Inllowine le 



"Poets are such ,-•./.■ e Uin-s, so much the 
children of wayward fancy" and canncious 
whim, that I bcl'ieve the v. or Id r;cnera!U r.iiuws 
them a 1 a.-er latitude in the laus of propriety, 
than the s< ! .r sons of ju.'.ginciit and prudence. 



lie schools only 



uestion. The 
lore happiness 






rs of genius. Hence, p 



BURNS. -LIFE. 



" The scenerv was nearW taken from real 
life, though I dare say, madam, you do not 
recollect it, as I believe you scarcely noticed 
the poetic ,-eveo- as he wandered by you. I 
had roved out as chance directed, in the favour- 
ite haunts of my muse, on the banks of the 
Ayr, to view nature in all the gaiety of the 
vernal year. The eveuia^ sun v.- as darning 



frequently turned out of mv path, lest 1,1 
disturb their little songs, or frighten tbe 









••ROBSRT BURNS." 

'Twas even— the dewv fields were srreen, 

On every blade the pearls ha.g ;* 
The Zephyr wanlou'd round tbe bean. 



When musing in a lonely gia 



"When roving through the garden ? ay 
Or wandering in the luue'.y wiid : 

But woman, nature's darling child ! 
Tuere all her charms she does com 

Even there her other works are foil'd. 
By the bonny lass o' Baliochmyle. 

O had she been a country maid, 

Though shel l ereT^the^ welshed 

, I 
Then pride migbt climb the s 



v;.:i 



>' Baiiochmjle. 



that thfhdj made mTrep I y * to his'Soo"! 

nndli.i^op.arstoba-.e-.voun.Uihi, self-love. 
It is nor, however, difficult to tind an excuso 
forhersilence. Burns was at that time little 
known, and where known at all, noted rather 



prevent her from p ; rc e iwng th.t lhe = uiuse°of 
fibu.ius breathed in Ibis nameless poet, and 

to i i i r< , o, i L " tu(A,r! It 
may be conceiv -d. al-o, t h it suppos ng ^the 

it d.l'i -u.t" to express its acknowledgments. 



hi, dj::i; bosom. It is true, Bur 
ve found precedents for such ireedo:. 
ic poets of Greece and Rome, end i 



remon irate i a ', a or a 

e incapable of control i 






DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



particular 


manner t 


3 the irapr 


ess 


ons of bea 


uty; 


and these 


qualities 


nnited to 


hi 


impassi 


...d 




gave him 




P 


werful influ- 




the female heart. 




he bank 


of 


the Avr f 


rmed the 


scene of 


outhful pass 




of a faiill t 




ture, the 




ory ofw 


lioh 


it would t 












, aud the 


trace; of 




ch will 






:■ '■'- 


whicft 


bey 


ins of na 

gave b 


riht 


'll.e fO.. ? 


entitled 


i 


M 




own 



" The farm of Mossgiel, at the time of our 
coming to it (Martinmas, 1783), was the pro. 
pertv of the earl of Loudon, but was held in 
tack by Mr Gavin Hamilton, writer in Mauch- 
line, from whom we had our bargain ; who had 



5S cf h 



char 



most interesting passases of mvvoulhful days. " i may be collecte. 

The object of Ibis passion died early in'life, ! gentleman. When the publication was begun, 

and the impression left on the mind of Burns ' Mr H. entered very warmly into ils interests, 

years afterwards, when be was removed to , Mr Robert Aiken, writer in Ayr, is a man "of 

recollections in the fol circle. of friends 



Again thou usher 

My Mary from 
O Mary ! "dear ' 



ry ! dear departed shade I 
we is ihv blissful place of rest 
thou thy lover lowly laid ? 



The frag 


au 


bi 


rch, 


-.\,C 


aw 


thorn ho 


Twine 








.in.. 




rapturec 


i;.» Mow 

Thebi 


ds 




g"fo 


;=;;; 


el-e 


3 be pr. = 


Till too. 






: Ih 


V> 






Proela 














Still o'er 














And 10 














Time but 


ti. 












As stre 
















.'' 


T 


;' 7 '' 


rted 







er came into his hands, than 
nown, and well received in 
e of Mr Aiken's friends, 

even for the good reception 



-......■-; 

H. Aiken, now of Liverpool. He was the 
oldest cf a young family, who were taught to 

■■"■■■ 
PaManiine, Esq. banker in Ayr; one of those 
gentlemen to whom mv Lrclher was introduced 
by Mr Aiken. lie 'interested himself very 



I he declined; and when this came to Mr Eal- 
| laatine's knowledge, he generously offered to 
accommodate B wi i what money he might 

? Edinburgh, as the 6l si 
! -When he did go to Edinburgh, his friends 



* The history of the poems formerly pi 






of Gilbert Euri 
o the Editor, 1 
it r.f the frici 



'■' Mr Robert Muh 






his corresponde 

ch'ief incidents o 









! of lloberl Mums. the Ayrs, 






Uui 



t, prof;-:,.- 



, Ins estate in A.) rehire. 

He had been introduced by Mr Alexander Dal- 
zel to the Earlof Uleucuirn, who had expre-sed 
his high approbation of his poetical talents. 
He had friends therefore who could ii.t.-oJuee 

fashion, and . p< art n e 



Mi ISumV P.t.ii.- in the ninety-seventh number cF 
hilosophv in the The Louuser, were copied into the London, ai 
"■'- well as into many of the provincial papers, and 
the fame of our bard spread throughout the 
island. Of the manners, character, and con- 



of gen 



■med of then 



admire 



n objee 



;riodical paper, 



6on might be said of him with great propriety, 

that he held the patent of his honours i:::;n.-tl;oU'i : ./ 
from Miiiishty God. "Nature had indeed mark- 
after the publication of my brother's lir,t 

of Rober.land, paid a very flattering attention, 
and showed a good deal of friendship for the 
poet. Before his going to Edinburgh, as well 
us after, Robert seemed peculiarly pleased with 
Professor Stewart's friendship and eouversa- 

"But of all the friendships which Robert 

forruly and constantly exerted in behalf of 

point of setting out for Edinburgh before Mrs 
Dunlop had heard of him. About the time " 
my brother's publishing in Kilmarnock, 
had been afflicted w ith a long and severe illne 

tressing state of depression. In this situati. 

table by a friend, and happening to open 
The Cotter's Saturday Night, she read it o 
with the greatest pleasure and surprise: 
poet's description of the simple cot I a ire..,, op 

exorcist, expelling the demon ejmaiand rest 

•jtisfaction, — Mrs Dur.lop sent oil' a pen 



lm a lop 
ended o 
to this lady a few dr 



ig of a correspondence whicl 

:he Doefs life. The last u,< 

■king a short ietlei 



the hurry of a wet day, snatched from labori- 
ous occupations, I may have forget some per- 

ledge, I shall be heartily sorry. " 

The friendshi'i of Mr.- I'-uiilop was of parti- 
cular value to Burns. This lady, daughter and 
sole heiress to Sir Thomas Wallace 



>ns of youth ; her admiration of the ; 

for the man ; which pursued him in after 
agh good and evil report ; in poverty. 

:o his infant family, now deprived of t 

'lilts paper has been attributed, hut 
erly, to Lord Craig, one of the Scot 



my house io Ayrshire, toge 
man friend Mr John Mac 
Mauchline, to whom I am indebted 
pleasure of his acquaintance. I am en< 
mention the date particularly, by somi 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

1 cannot positively say, at this distance < 
ilaoce, the Kilmarnock edition of h 



;urg>0. 



late Basil, Lord Daer, happened to arriv 
Catrine the same day, and by the kindness 

The verses I allude "to^are^among'the i 
imperfect of his pieces ; but a few stanzas 
perhaps be an object of curiosity to you, 



Judges, author of the very interest! 
of Michael Bruce, in the 3Sth nun 

* This poem is as follows : 

This wot ye all whom it concerns, 
J, Rhymer Robin, alias Burns, 

A ne'er .to°be-forgo«eii day,' 
Saefar [ sprachled up the brae, 
I dinner' d wi' a Lord. 

I've been at drunken writers' feas 



Wi' re 

eveojoi. 



■djoi 



Dress. I 6 
as I have 



n ju= 



my posse: 



97th number of Tim Lounger. 

" At this time Burns's prospects in life were 
so extremely gloomy, that he had seriously 



nd his dread of any thing appr 
omewhat decided and hard. Xothinj 



Up higher yet my bonuet'; 


tainments, than the flu 


ency, andpteci 


An' sic a Lord— lang Scotch ells twa, 


originality of his lang 


age, when he spoke in 


Our peerage he o'erlooks them a', 




cularly as he aimed at 


As I look o'er my sonnet. 










most Scotchmen, the 


But for Hogarth's magic power ! 




phraseology. 


To show Sir Bardy's wiljyart glowr, 


•< He came to Edinb 


rgh early in (he winter 


And how he stared and stammer "d, 


following, and reinai 




When goavan, as if led wi' branks, 




ice he took this step, 1 


An' slumpan on his ploughman shanks, 


am unable to say. Pe 




He in the parlour hammer'd. 


only by his ov.n ccrio 


ill to see a little more 




of the world; but. I 


confess, I dreaded the 




consequences from the 


ret, and always wished 






bits should continue the 




same as in the former 




An' at his Lordship steal't a look, 


addition of, what I co 






pletely within his reach 


agoodfarmonmoder. 


Except good sense and social glee, 




he country agreeable to 


An' (what surprised me) modesty, 


his taste. 






" The attentions he r 


eceived during his stay 



in town from all ranks and descriptions of 

head but his own. I cannot say that I could 
perceive any unfavourable effect which they 

plicity of manners and appearance which had 

the country ; nor did he seem to feel any addi- 
tional self-importance from the number and 

perfectly 



ending, with a sufficient at 


ention to neatness. 


If I recollect right he alway 








breeches. 




"The variety of his eng 


gements, while in 


Edinburgh, prevented me f 


om seeing him so 


often as I could have wishe 


. In the course of 


the spring he colled on me o 






, and walked with 


me to Braid- Hills, in the ne 


ghbeurhood of the 


town, when he charmed m 


still more by his 




e had ever done in 


Company. He was passio 


nately fond of the 



Jacobite ; which was perhaps owing partly i 
this, that his father was originally from tl 
estate of Lord Mareschall. Indeed he did n. 

nor very consistently. He had a very stron 



affairs. 

" I do not recoiled 
not from any of your 1 



that yo 



superfluous for me to add, that the idea whic 
his conversation conveyed of the powers of h 
mind, exceeded, if possible, that which is su; 

fested by his writings. Anions the poets who 
have happened to know, 1 have been strucl 

able disparity bel 



i ir.spir: 



all the faculties 
r as I could jud 



composition. From his 
have pronounced him to 
whatever walk of ambit 



customed to dwell, the characters of the __„ 
plainly a favourite one. The remarks he made 



LIFE. S5 

casm. His praise of those he loved was 
sometimes indiscriminate and extravagant; but 

pressed with the marks of" a vi-crons "und.-r- 
standing ; but, to my taste, not often pleasing 
or happy. His attempts at epigram, in his 
printed works, are the only performances, 
perhaps, that he has produced, totally unwor- 
thy of his genius. 

"In summer, 17S7, I passed some weeks 

that season to the Highland's, ^nd^aThe'l'lso' 



for c'onvh-'iaf and" not "verj^wt'Licie^, "l 

should have concluded in favour of his habits 






gcfdnatoie" eFhfe 'taste, in judging 'if "the 
compositions of others, when there was any 
real ground for praise. I repeated to him 

he was unacquainted, and have more than once 
witnessed the tears of admiration and rapture 
with which he heard them. The collection of 

standing his Foi reiy difficult 

it had some effect in polishing his subsequent 

" In judging of prose, I do not think his 
taste was equally sound. I once read to him 



complaint to wl 


ich he had 


of late 


aecoine 


bject. 








■• In the course 


of the same 






d by curiosity to 


attend for an 


hour or 












esided. He had occasion 


o make 






mpliments to 






duals from whon 


he had no reason to 






thing he sa 


d was 


appily 


nceived, and for 


i% « J«U 


as fluen 


Jy «- 


essed. If I am 








at in that village 




to Edin 


mrghl 


e had belonged 






of the 


habitants as. ha 


d a taste f 






ey used to conve 








ting questions th 








urse of their rea 


inc. His n 


annerof 




g in public had 


vidently the 


marks of soma 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY, 
ir.klin's Worts, which | English; and wh 






cal principles of the language. He began the 
study of Latin, but cropped it before he had 

him quote a few Latin words, such as omnia 

he had caught from conversation, and which 
he repeated by rote. I think he had a project 



hildhood, fron: 
s it probably w 



dentally fell into his hands in his early years, 
he mentioned paticularly the recommendatory 

p.^uis. L. I: =r- i '. .. -. -:.■... li - 



country people of Scotland, as 
son.e degree of taste with their re 
And these poems (although the 


s 


notfre of thTs'fact himself!"!^ 
the taste is liable to be influence 


Ibj 


" His father appeared to me 
count he gave of him, to have 
able and worthy character, poss 


fro 



"He certainly possessed a smattering of 
French ; ajid, if 'he had an affectation in any 
thing, it was in introducing occasionally a word 



v. 


s able to read 


i.i 


r r 




nt toh£ 


[.... 


,. 


F, 










Id 


™j 


strong a 


nd 


poi 


-'■-' 



thing of practical geo 



lines of the follow 
the whole of wh 
enthusiasm ; 


„ r , f ll , Jl ■ ~ t 


* Shall 1 be left f 

When fate relen 

Shall nature's voi 

Bid him, thoug 


doom'd to perish, hope to 


'withdisappoin 
No! Heaven's 

Andman's'maje 

Bright through t'h 

phant reign 


irtne oft must strive 
Blent, penury, and pain ? 
mmortal spring shall ye 


S£*ta2s: 


, his simple sire had i 'u?\l : 
st all the shepherd knew. 


'« With respect to Burns 's early education, 
1 cannot say any thing with ceruinty. lie 
always spoke with respect and gratitude of the 
BefaooUmastei who had taught him to read 



ilarly of 
iring the 



hood of Edinburgh, where I was then living. 

inSe^tmg. 1 Alison sent 

him afterwards of his Essays on Taste, drew 
from Burns a letter of acknowledgment, which 

from it to have formed, of the several princi- 
ple? of the doctrine of association. When I 
saw Mr Alison in Shropshire last autumn, I 

If ft is, v.u mav easily procure it, by means of 
our friend Mr Houlbrooke, ' ' 

The scene that opened on our bard in Edin- 
burgh was altogether new, and in a variety of 
other respects highly interesting, especially to 






BURNS. —LIFE. 



grateful to him. At the table of Lord Muu- 
boddo he was a frequent gue-t ; and while lie 
enjoyed the society, and partook of the ho?pi- 
I:,:ii'b, of the venerable Judge, he experienced 
the kindness and condescension of his lovely 
and accomplished daughter. The singular 
beauty of this young lady was illumined by that 

•~"uui"nof-" : - 



with tt 



not unfelt by oul 
tea friend,' 



:e of such 



,ns of beauty, 
._... has formed, 
[ton's Eve on the 6rst day of her ex- 
istence." In his Address to Edinbu xh, she 

•'Fair Burnet strikes th' adoring eye, 

lsee^hTsLtf Lore on high, * ' 

fe And own his works indeed divine! " 

This lovely woman died a few years after- 
wards in the flower of her youth. Our bard 

verses addressed to her memory. 

Among the men of rank and fashion. Burns 
was part. cularh cli»ti..i-ui=ln.-..l bv James, Earl 
of tilencairn. On the motion of this noble- 



ism and independenci 



or kindling indignant j 
;, equally find in you at 



with habits of temperance and regularity ; 
Edinburgh, at the period of which we spe . 



ing imagination, 

onversatiou of un- 
indulgences that 



n of his relish for the man 



te, elegance, and literature. The sudden 
alteration in his habits of life operated on him 
physically as well as morally. The humble fare 



of observation. The following extracts may 
serve as a specimen : 

Edinburgh, April 9, 17S7. 

in Edinl nrgb, a great many characters which 

my£Lito > on the" spotTfoay observes In a 
letter to Mr Palgrave, that, • half a word fixed 

recollection. ' I don't know how it is with the 
world in general, but with me, making my re- 
marks is by no means a solitary pleasure. I 

help™'/ discrrailnation, °w.th° his 6 or her' own 
acutcne'ss and penetration. ° The world are so 

worth their while to make any observation on 

plant they are rearing in their fancy. iNor am 
flights of novel-writers, and the sage philosophy 



hat one man 


may pour out his bosom, his 


y thought an 










azard of losing part of that re- 






n the unavo 




tan nature, c 


f one day repenting his ccnii- 


For these re 


lsons 1 am determined to mafcs 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 
I will sketch every I am so capable of ihe throes of gratitude, a 



rtfaldorjuoc 



. ."heartOTeXwrwiir^lIat 
think a lock and key a security, at least equal i is called liking. When he neglects me for the 
to the bosom of any friend whatever. | mere carcass of greatness, or when his eye 



<-. u;e.r,ionally ir 
:onrideace went 1 



The fntentions of the poet in procuring this 
book, so fullv described by himself, were very 
imperfectly executed. He has inserted in it 



When thought meets thought, ere from the lips 
Aud each warm wish springs mutual from the 









These ai 
lett 



and nothing but the i 



d revels. ' But this is not 
ly situation, if I am wise, „ 
(which by the bye I have no great chance of the wi 
being J, my fate should be cast with the Psal- - ' 

im.,1 » sparrow ' ;o watch alone on the house 
Wds. '—Oh, the pity '. 



spect due t 

.ppears that in his conversation he wa 
:d, nothhi 

:h, while thei- 






rs well as 



" There are few of the i 



;:/the i 



edition of his poems, Burn 
urea a sum of money that enabled hin 
ily to partake of the pleasures of Edinbt 



attractive by their beauty or their gran- 

the comparison how a man of genius" nav, of turally revived. The scenery on the banks of 
avowed worth, is received everywhere, with the Tweed, and of its tributary streams, strongly 



un= or" i'jrla: 
luscious that 



line- I Edinburgh on the 6th of May, 17S7, on ; 

nan of through a country so much celebrated in the 

pride, rural songs of Scotland. He travelled on 

° at a part of his journey, by Mr Ainslie', now "writer 






e G . has wounded i 

He showed so much atte 
table (th'e whole company 



the father of hi 

ter o! introduc 
Rev Dr Somervil 



Scott of Wauchope ; Dr Elliot, 



is defiance, b 



bitted of 

that I was within 

Tshoo n kV a hand f „ 

good at parting. God bless him ! though I j 

until my dying day ! I am pleased to think I , 



:w m'v^.f), Lai'iks or' the Roole ; Sir Alexander Don; S 
^throwing James Hall of Dunglass ; and a great varie 

every where he received the most hosp 



BURNS LIFE. 



by the magistrates with the freedom of their 
borough. The following may serve as a spe- 

ftrence to living characters prevents our giving 
at large. 

"Saturday, May 6. Left Edinburgh— Lam- 

but at times very picturesque. 

" Lanson-edge, aglorious view of the Merse. 
Reach Berrywell. . . . The family- 

meeting with my compagnon de voyage, very 
charming : particularly the sister. . . . 

"Sunday. Went to church at Dunse. 
Heard Dr Bowmaker. ... 

Tweed— clear and majestic -line bridge-dine 
at Coldstream with MrAinslie and Mr Foreman. 
Beat Mr Foreman in a dispute about Voltaire. 
Drink tea at Lenuel-House with Mr and Mrs 
Brydone. . . . Reception extremely flatter- 

" Tuesday. Breakfast at Kelso— charming 

Tweed. Enchanting views and prospects on 
both sides of the river, especially on the Scotch 

situation of it.' Ruins of Roxburgh Castle- 
was accidentally killed by the bursting of a 
cannon, A small old religious ruin and a fine 
old garden planted by the religious, rooted out 
and destroyed by a Hottentot, a maitre u" hotel 
of the Duke's!— Climate and soil of Berwick- 
shire, and even Roxburghshire, superior to Ayr- 



Dryburgh a fine old ruined abbey, by the way. 
Cross the Leader, and come up the Tweed to 



it that far-famed 



if Ettrick, The 



'"■F.iy. Breakfast with Mr Fair. . 
, . Charming ru. auntie situation of Jed- 
burgh, with gardens and orchards, inter- 
mingled among the houses, and the ruins of a 
once magnificent cathedral. All the towns 
here have the appearance of old rude grandeur, 
but extremely idle.— Jed, a fine romantic little 



clergyman of the parish, a man, and a gentle- 
man, but sadly addicted to punning. t t 

■ •'Jedburgh, Saturday. Was presented by 

the magistrates with the freedom of the town. 

" Took farewell of Jedburgh, with .some 

••Monday. Miy 11, K?ho. Dine with the 
farmer's club— all gentlemen talking of high 
matters — each of them keeps a hunter from 
L30 to Z.50 value, and attend* the fox-huuting 
club in the country. Go out with Mr Ker, one 
oftheciub, and a friend of Mr Ainslie's, to 
sleep. In his mind and manners, Mr Ker is 
astonishingly like my dear old friend Robert 
Muir — every thing in his house* elegant. He 
offers to accompany me in my English tour. 

••Tuesday. Dine with Sir Alexander Don ; 



t three weeks in explori 



him. He visited Alnwick Castle ; the princely- 
seat of the Duke of Northumberland; the 
hermitage and old castle of Warksworth ; 
Morpeth, and Newcastle.— In this town he 
spent two days, and then proceeded to the 
south-west by Hexham and Wardrue, to Car- 

with his friend turned 1 into 

abruptly.' 

Of the various persons with whom he be- 
lie has, in general, given some account ; and 
almost always a favourable one. That on the 
banks of the Tweed and of the Teviot, our 
bard should find nymphs that were beautiful, 

of these ar/particular'ly described in his journal? 

inhabitants, produced any effort of his muse, 
as it was to have been wished and exnected. 
From Anuan, Burns proceeded to D .nifries. 



h^'wasTe"';''. hfe brothers! 

and sisters. He had left them poor, and com- 



roceeded agaiulo Edinburgh, LdTmme 
j set out on a journey to the Highlands 



country where savage streams tumble over 
savage mountains, thinly overspread with sav- 

inhabitauts. My last stage was Inverary— fo- 
morrow night's stage, Dumbarton. I ought 
sooner to have answered your kind letter, but 

From this journey Burns returned to his 



very generally 
e of this 



DIAMOND C 

is favoured us with the folio 

nd I left Edinburgh togeth 
We rode by Linlithgow 



NET LIBRARY. 

is not expressing in more glowing and fenii 
inguage, his impressions of the Cauldron Lim 



at Carron, with which tl 

struck. The resemblance between that place, 

ested him ; in a former visit to which, his 
national feelings had been powerful y e:::iieJ 

-which the" So had frequent- 

ly been held. His indignation had vented it- 
self _ in some imprudent, but not unpoe.ical 

travellers fronTEdinburgh, 
a character in many respects 
that of Burns. This was M 
teachers of the High Gran 
Edinburgh-the same wit an, 



with o 






cntly opposite. I regret that I 



Many songs were 
the sake of observ 



from which I have derived, and expect further 
so derive, much happiness. 

••During a residence of about ten days at 
K-.rvieston, we made excursions to visit various 
parts of the surrounding scenery, infenor to 
cone in S-o>land, in beauty, sublimity, and 



iheCauhb 



fed. I am surprised 
iim.e. But I doubt . 



i;l;--;j;. 



tbe lineal descendant of 
e the i>cMii»h throne its 
iterested his feelings more 
erable dame, with chnrac- 



ilv of Robert Eruce, that Robert Bruce i 
sprung from her family. Though almost 
prived of speech by a paralytic affection, 



vo-handed sword, with which she 
i Bums and myself the honour 
rod, remarking, that she had a bet; 



toast after 
i tbe Stran- 
s you will 



saying it should be Hcei, or Hoohi uncot, 

"We "returned" «> Edinburgh by Kinn 
(on the shore of Lochleven) and Qaeensfen 

poor Michael Bruce, who was then alive 
Kinross, or had died there a short while befo: 

deserted cottage and early grave of poor Brut 
would have been hithly interesting.* 

"At Dunfermline we visited the ruir 
abbey, and the abbey-church now eonsecral 
to Presbyterian worship. Here I mount 
the cutty stool, or stool of repentance, assni 

while Burus from the pulp t addressed to i 
a ludicrous reproof and exhortation, parodi 



i Ayrs 






■ated tbe worse than Gothic neglect of the 
of Scottish heroes, "i 



The surprise expressed by Dr Adair, in bis 

the Devon should have failed to call forth any 
exertion of tbe poet', mu=e. is not in its nature 
singular; and the disappointment felt at bi a 

. i'f.'d n j ,," .W . ' > '.1 of the 



BVS.NS.. 
Yet the inference that Dr i 



one that he adopted. The very e 
energies^ fane" if communicated 



Mill 



subjects of his 
; may perhaps 



specially of objects of <rrand. ur 



■riptio: 



es, of a 



are about to view them, particularly if they 
are persons of great strength and sensibility of 
imagination. Language seldom or never con- 

the mind of a great poet it may excite a pic- 
ture that far transcends them. The imagina- 
tion of Burns might form a cataract in com- 
narison with which the Cauldron Linn si, uld 



falls c 

Whether' 



i may a 



ought rather to be imputed to some pre-occu- 
pation, or indisposition of mind, we presume 
not to decide; but that he was in general 
feelingly alive to the beautiful or sublime in 
scenery, may be supported by irresistible evi- 
dence. It is true, this pleasure u as greatly 



kind! "To h?ve7ormeVb{fore- hand 'a ' d.li n?t 
picture in (he mind, of any interesting t rr,ou 
or (h-.titr, rfener.illv le-sctis the pb-a.-ure <.f the 
first meeting wilhlhein. Though tais picture 
be not superior, or even equal to the reality, 



Jn a Young Lady, residing on the lanks of the 
small river Devon, in Clackmannanshire, but 
:id years were spent in Ayrshire. 



Was once a sweet bud on the braes of the 
Ayr. 

rlild be the sun on this sweet blushing flower, 

dew°! 

Lnd gentle the fall of the soft vernal shower, 



distant, thou reptile that 
1 pride of the garden and 



fromEdinbufg" 



g of September, he i 



his life. Mr Nicol was of Dumfrie: 
a descent equally humble with ov 
kehim hero.-e In the strength of his 
d fell by the strength of his passioi: 
;d in the summer of 1797. Having i 



and by early undertaki 
himself at 'the Unin 



jrflaps of some' well-founded objection's, Mr 



learned to excel. It was thu; 
traveller of Burns. Formed 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

Or by the reaper's nightly Lea 
Mild chequering through th 

Rave to my darkly-da.hiug sir 
Hoarse swelling ou the bree. 

It was with much difficulty I 

to quit this spot, and to be ii 

supper. 



''" y hich d d' 



gui.hed the conversation of Burns, in the 
blaze of whose genius all the deficiencies of 



Mr Nieol and our poet 
lnverne'ss^TWthey 1 ! 



: of the Highlands, 
ten miles beyond 

d returned by the 
o Edinburgh. In 



ion of Burns wa 
; passed. Of this 



No. 34 : and, by the favour of Mr Walker of 
Perth, then residing in the family of the : 
of Alhole, we are enabled to give the folio 



v.-i._"him;.' 




edto meet him at the 


inn. The 1 






of introdue 




from home; but the 


Duchess, h 
him an inv 


^f.n'io™; 


P d and h Ilee7at a Athole 


House. H 




he invitation ; but, as 


the hour of 


upper was 


it i .i.iance, beg- 


ged I would 


in the inter 




the pounds 


It was 


ireai'.;, growing dark; 




ned, thoug 


l faint and uncertain, 


"view of the 




which the moonlight 


aitcruel Us, 






ot hi, ,,.:;.. 


, at the t! 


ic. I had often, like 


others, expo 




pleasures which arise- 


from .he si. 










so intense as in Bums. 


When we 


eached a°r 


ustic hut ou the river 



"My c 



to himself, an 
for the separal 
each. He did 
when led into 






) be there. The Duk 



j , and with which he has very reh- 

" Next day I took a ride with him through 
;cme of the most romantic parts of that neigh- 
bourhood, and was highly gratified by his con. 
rersation. As a specimen of his happiness of 
;onception and stri.-i._-th of t_.nre.iion, I will 
uention a remark which he madeou his fellow- 
iraveller, who was walking at the time a few 
.aces before us. He was a man of a robust 

on account of -. although 

Ihey were clouded at limes by coarseness of 



JU-r leaving Blair, he, by the 
ce, visited the Falls of _.,•__., and 
s I received a letter from Inverness, 



It appears that the 



help thinking it might have been here that he 


them, and he often mentioned the two days ho 




spent at Athole-house as among the happiest of 




bis life. He was warmly invited to prolong 






combination of objects as were now present to 




his eye. 


to be regretted, as he would otherwise hav. 




t In the preceding winter, Burns had been 


« See " Lines on seeing some water fowl in 


in eom.anv of the highest rank in Edinl urgh ; 


LochTurit, a wild scene among the hills of 


but this description of his manners is perfectly 


Oobu-mre. " "Lines written with a Pencil 


applicable to his first appearance in such 


over the chimney piece, in the Inn at Ken- 


society. 


more. Tavmouth. " "Lines written with a 


i Extract of a letter from Mr Walker to Mr 


pencil standing by the Fall of Fyres, near 


Cunningham, dated Berth, _.th October, 


Loehness. " 


17.7. 



BU HNS. -LIFE. 



t, for the first time, Mr Grahar 
=e in the Excise. 






Shading from the turning n 
Hapless wretches told to toil 
Or the ruthless native's way 
Bent on slaughter, blood, an 



Fochabers 



;ter leaving Blair of Athole, 
is fellow-traveller arrived at 
chabers. In the course of the preceding 
..nter Burns had been introduced to the 
Duchess of Gordon at Edinburgh, and pre- 

GoTuon. Castle", kaWng iMr°Nicof a^thTinn in 
the village. At the castle our poet was re- 

ness, and the family being about to sit down 

table'aTa matted oTc'ourse! Vhis'^i il vftati.m 
he accepted, and after drinking a few glasses 
of wine, he rose up and proposed to withdraw. 
On being pressed to stay, he mentoned, for 
the fir--! time, his engagement with his fellow- 
traveller ; and his noble host offerins to send 
a servant to conduct Mr Nicol to the castle, 
Burns insisted on undertaking that office him . 

gentleman, a particular acquaintance of the 
Duke, by whom the invitation was delivered 









e of Nira 






to a high degree of passion, by the negle 
which he had already suffered- He had order< 
the horses to be put to the carriage, being d 
termined to proceed ou his journey alone : ai 



t Edinburgh during tl 



of December, he af ended a meeting to cele- 
■ ' th-day > f the lineal descendant of 



Edwi 



Who 



e of tl 



might 



fectly loyal to the king on'the throne. It is 

hope of, any wish for, the restoration of the 
House of Stuart ; but, over their sparkling 
wine, they indulged the generous feelings 
which the recollection of fallen greatness is 
calculated to inspire; and commemorated the 
heroic valour which strove to sustain it in vain 
—valour worth? of a nobler cause and a hap- 
Dier fortune. On this occasion our bard took 
upon himself the office of poet-laureate, t\nd 

the complicated rhythm and polished versirjea- 



False flatterer, Hope, away * 
Nor think to lure us as in days of yore, 

We solemnize this sorrowing natal day, 



•)■ These verses our poet composed to be sung 
to BJorag, a Highland air of which he was ex- 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



if northern ice but warms ?) 



(What breast of northern ice but wa 

To bold BalmerinoV undying name, 

Whose saul, of tire, lighted at Heaven's nigu 

Deserves the proudest wreath departed heroes 



Sot unrevenged your fate shall be ; 






erieneed from a poet then living, ihs amiable 
ad accomplished Blacklock — To his eneour- 

eared) that Burns, instead of emL'ratins lo the 
Vest Indies, repaired to Edinburgh. Here- 






of 1787. at 'his delightful retirement i: 
neighbourhood of Stirling, and on the ba:: 

tU'Tuh. Of Ibis vi.-it wehave ibe Ul.o 



him; for, in ihe games! 



iling of a play similar to the Gentle Shep- 
■d, qnatem decet esse sororem, but Scottish 
orgies, a subject which Thomson has bv no 
ans exhausted in his Seasons What beau- 
il landscapes of rural life and manners might 
been expected from a peneil so faith- 



ful and forcibli 

hibited scenes as familiar at 

those in the Girdle Shepliei 



ling as 



Having b, 

Board of 
name bad been put on the list of candidates for 
the humble office of a gauger or exciseman ; 



} Ihe Board of ExJ-e, 



He expec! 

dittric: in v 

3EJS 



her i 


a pu 




aralioc of marriage, thus 


ie^li 


'■'-" L 


etr unto 


, and rendering it pernia- 


Btl 


■ ,-e Ii. 


rns was 


lcnown in Edinburgh, a 


Mr ? 


ten of 
MUle 


deltS 


ry had recommended him 
swinlon. Understanding 
sunie the life of a farmer, 

ate in Kithsda 

e the chuice of any of his 



* Extract of a letter from Mr Iinmsay to the 
tended, however, a ma primed be- 



BURNS—LIFE. 



inns out of lease, at such a rent as Burns 
is friends might judge proper. It was nt 
le nature of Burns to lake an undue adi 
..re of the liberality of Mr Miller. He 



hMdr 


•alue of land, lo 
approbation, offe 




lent for Mrs Bu 




, Ayrshire, and 








he reception of 


whojoi 


edhim towards 



himself was calculated to awaken reflection. 

said to have, in some measure, fiied his destiny. 

bad engaged in the management of a consi- 
derable farm, a difficult and laborious under- 

o abandon the gavety and dissipation of wh 
be had been too much enamoured ; to pon 
seriously on the past, and to form virtuous 

was actually the state of bis mind, the folic 

"Ellhland, Sunday, Ulh June, ITS 
" This is now the third day that I have b, 

n this country. ' Lord, what is man!' Wi 

'deas, and fancies ! and what a capricious kl 
>f existence he has here ' . . There 
ndeed" an elsewhere, where, as Thomson sa 



Will none of you in pity di 



such a coward in life, so tired of 
, that I would almosi at any time, 
n's Adam, 'gladly lay me in my 
p, and be at peace. ' 



pernaturally- 

cil'ted Elif.ha can ever after heal the evils. 






surely will a great deal) o 


n internal 


eace ; all 






suffrages. 




powerful sulic 




h a ?oote 


1 attach- 


haTe I an «! 


e the step 


part to rej 


en. Nor 
ent it 




w, but h'av 






t^eT'let'me 6 


made a let 


;., , in 


e motto' 


that glorious i 


assage in "i 


cung— 




•C 




Id resolve, 




That column 


f true majes 


ty in man 




Under the 


impulse c 


f these re 


flections, 






J in r.lu 


ding the 


dwelling-hous 


h, was ii 


™lu"u-\' 


, in the 
the .-le- 


commodation 

he himself re 


fhis family 

I.,, i, U..<! L, 




ngth nor 


his skill impai" 


ed Pleas 












..',' v. i:l 




iuiirll.L' Ih 




e.htlter 




d chil, ien, 




e fondly 


hoped, to his 
independence 


V " I 


lairs, tell 


ments of 

ctures of 




"a fewVay* 






hiin.-elfinforn 


s us, the m 

hich he ha 


ever expi 


1, if not 


It IS JP to S be , 
period of his 


life",' our pc 




critical 








A great 




ke',, e pla"e i 
















h he was pi 




ihl;.r.ied 






hi, thou 


hts and 








be cares 


and labours o 


his farm 








o his fami) 


in Ayr„l 




as the distance 


was too gre 


at for a sir. 


le day's 


* Animated 


sentiments 


f any kind 


, almost 


always gave r 


e in - ur pc 








e. His sen 


imeutsou his oc 




■-" ";.r.s, 


dby the 








c, though 




Ihae 


a wife o' m. 




f an old 


111 

Ihae 
'lhe 


p:.l ::.!..■ v., ' 
gie cuckold 

lacihii.- to 


o naelod; 




I'll 


borrow frae 


nae-'bedy. 




I am I 


ae-body'sl 


rd, 




I'll 


be slave to nae-bo 






a gmd braid 






I'll 


ak dunts ft 


e uae-lody 




I'll be 


merrv and 

e s-icficrm. 


e-Lody ; 




If r.ae 

I'll 


IXV L.Hi 


"bcuy. 




T Mrs Burn 


was alou 


lo be con 


fi.ed in 


child-bed, and 


the luusc a 


Ehi.-lind 


was « 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBUAS.Y. 



he had fori 

assailed bin 

His fame 



, he generally spent a 
impany, and forgot 



lie had surmounted the prejudices an- in? trom 

• ..Ii 

come, with kindness, and even with respect. 



the unsteady fa 


ric of his 


















and despondenc 


8, if not w 



elihood, should his other 



and, by the interest of Air Grahan 



but his farm no longer occupied the principl 

ml that he was now in general to I 
found. Mounted on horseback, this higl 



ganger, in every thing else, be was perfectly a 
gentleman. After leaving a note to be delivered 
to him on his return, I proceeded to his house, 
being curious to see his Jean, kc. I was much 
pleased with his uxor SaOina qiialis, and the 



sation directly, and sc 
'»'»»» of poetry. He 
iv gotten a story for a 



grieved at the reports of him afterwards. 
Poor Burns ! we shall hardly ever see his like 
again. He was, in truth, a sort of count in 
literature, irregular in its motions, which did 



revenue, among the hills and vales of Niths- 


ceeded in search of him. On a rock that pro- 


dale, tis roving eye wandering over the charms 


Id'fn Angling! oTa ringuTJ^pe^n^Sa 






had a cap made of a fox's skin on his head, a 


" I had an adventure with him in the year 




1790," says Air Kamsay of Ochtertyre; in a 


.... ..:,;',,;., i :,,.. ■■,..,.„ 




broad-sword. It was Burns. He received 




them with great cordiality, and asked them to 


* The poem of The Whistle celebrates a 






il. 


Mr Riddel diei ad, ^nd'Tome 


beef, with vegetables and barley-broth, after 






heartily. After dinner, the bard told them 


this rolume. From him, and from all the 


ingenuously that ho had no wine to offer 


members of his family, Burns received not 


them, nothing better than Highland whisky, 


kindness only but friendship; and the society 






He produced at the same time his punch- 


lated to improve his habits as well as his man- 


bowl, made of Inverary marble, and, mixing 


ners. Air Ferguson of Craigdarroch, so well 


the spirits with water and sugar, filled their 






died soon after our poet. Sir Robert Lawrie, 










* This bowl was made of the stone of which 


nature. Long may he live to fight the battles 


Inverary house is built, the mansion_of the 



BUK.\ T 5 LIFE. 



iiav. 


ur of the whisky to their toidkrc 


'. pi-" 




was scarcely tolerable; but th 


gen. 




poet ofl'ered them his best, a 


d Lis 


trde 




ble to 




. Burns w'as in his happiest moo 






harms of his conversation were alto 




fa = o 


nating. He ranged over a great 




Her 


pics, illuminating whatever he to 
elated the tales of his infancy and 






i ; he recited some of the gayest and 




of ti 




lest of 


















!>.-:.- 


land 




-narble 


bow 






is „ he . 


; the guests of our poet torj.it the 


night 



assisted by the niornk 
ties in the Excise and his 
n of Burns to"his "farm. 



f occasionally in composing songs for 
tsical work of Jlr Johnson, then in the 
of publication. _ These engagements, 



resign Ins farm to Mr Miller ; after U:_ .. ..- oc- 
cupied it three years and a half. His o.-ioo in 
the Excise had originally produced about fifty 



s family on this humble income till prori 
id of his crop on Ellisland by public auctic 



, had abstained from the ha 
red any permanent injury f 



to them, 

finally triumphed over all the powers of his 
will. Yet this victory was not obtained with- 



* Given from the information of one cf the 



out many obstinate struggles, and at times 
temperance and virtue seemed to have obtained 
the mastery. Besides his engagements in the 
Excise, and the society into which they led, 

pholjfateofB ceksbrity'made 

him an object of interest and curiosity to stran- 

sed through Dumfries without attempting to 
see our poet, and to enjoy the pleasure of his 



it the inns of the town, 



strength and degradation of his genius. 

Still, however, lie cultivated the society of 

lived in Dumfries, he produced many of his 
beautiful lyrics, though it does not appear that 
he attempted any poem of considerable length. 
During this time, he made several excursions 
into the neighbouring country, of one of which 
through Ualloway, an account is preserved in 
a letter of Mr Syme, written scon after; 
which, as it gives an animated picture of him 

" I got Burns a grey highland shelly to ride 
on. We dined the first day, 27th July, 171-3, 

tion on the banks of the Dee. In the evening 
we walked out, and ascended a gentle eminence, 
from which we had as fine a view of Alpine 
scenery as can well be imagined. A deliebtfnl 
soft evening showed all its wilder as well as 

i a° r mile' of us, we saw Audi', a 

the author of Mary weep BO more for mc.'f 
This was classical ground for Burns. He 
viewed "the highest hill which rises o'er the 



moat. In front, the river Ken winds for se- 
reral miles through the most fertile and beauli- 

f A beautiful and well-known ballad, which 

The moon had climb'd the highest hill 

Which rises o'er the source of Dee, 

And, from the eastern summit, shed 

Its silver light on tower and tree. 

i The level low ground on the backs of a 

riv'er or stream. This word should be adopted 

from the Scottish, as, indeed, ought several 

others of the same nature. That dialect is 

singularly copious and exact in the deuomina- 



48 dia:.;om> cal. 

miles long, the banks of which, on the south, 
present a line and soft landscape of green 
knolls, natural wood, and here and there a grey 
rock. On the north, the aspect is great, v, ild, 
and I may say, tremendous. In short, I can 
scarcely conceive a scene more terribly roman- 
tic than the castle of Kenmore. Euros thinks 
so highly of it, that he meditates a description 
of it in poetry. Indeed, I believe he has begun 
the work. We spent three days with Mr 



ject; but, to please the lady, he would try. 
Here is what he produced : 

In wood and wild, ye warbling throng, 

Now half extinct your powers of song, 



Ye jarring screeching things around, 
Scream your discordant joys ; 

Now half your din of tuneless sound 
With Echo silent lies. 



hollow winds sighed, the lightning- 2: 1 u -■; ; 

awful scene— he spoke not a word, but sei 
wrapt in meditation. In a little while tbe 



'•' Fro n ,n U Ga'eho"te U > t 'w'e J we 
rkcudbright, through a fine 



id got a pair of 



jeaimy boots for the journey ( 
thoroughly wet, and which hau oeeu uneu 111 

of this son is more Irving to the temper than a 
serious calamity. We were going to Saint 
Mary's Isle, the seat of the Earl of Selkirk, and 
the forlorn Bums was discomlittd at the thought 
of his ruined boots. A sick stomach, and a 
heart-ache, lent their aid, and the man of verse 

him. Mercy on us, how he did fume and rage ! 



expectorated his spleen, and regained a mi 



'Twos nothing would si 



X~T LIZRAKY. 

Thy fool's head, quoth Satan, that crown shall 

iu inn 1 us ud in in 1 1 tA appearances, 



"We reached Kirkcudbright 1 



, therefore, on Mr Dalze 



yet that Lord was Dot an aristocrate, at least 
in his sense of the word. We arrived about 
eieht o'clock, as tbe family were at tea and 
coffee. St Mary's Lie is one of the most de- 

Bnt not to dwell on its exter- 
nal graces, let me tell you that we found all 

and some strangers; and among others, who 
but L rbmn ! 'ihe Italian sung us many Scct- 

aisT' WeVaT tlTTong of Lord ' 

which I asked for, to have an oppori unity of 



stnplation and indulgence of the sympathy 



d a kind for such a style of composition; 
r instance, "Thou bolt of Heaven that pass- 
t by;" and, i , Ire. 

''a'^ratber "thivfet* ° b ^'""' "^ 

..J";, ed a most happy evening at Lord 



EUR.NS LIFE. 



■ Scots, whaha'e wi' "Wallace bled,' &c." defends himself f: 

Barns had entertained hopes of promotion from the charge of bavii 
in the Excise; but circumstances occu- J 
which retarded their fulfilment, and which 



uterested the feeling! 
d tvrannj seemed at 



e revolution of 
f Europe. Pre- 



■ ird :i"ihe original hopes enter 



mcing ilre^;>r( 
up to public vie 



and of happin< 



: cov.la i.ot suLdue. " 

Ii v. as one of the last acts of his life to cooy 
.is letter into his look of manuscripts, ac- 

;n of universafalurm for the safety of the 



measures, or of the reforms required in the 
practice of our government ; and »om t limes, ;:. 

them with a wild" and uir:-,istii;a'j!e'v e he..ii:i.o-e. 
Information of this was given to the Eoara of 

such cases. A superior officer in°tliat de- 
partment was authorized to inquire into his 
conduct, turns ua.i.ad him=eif in a letter 
addressed to one of the board, written with 

than his accic - The officer 

appointed to inquire int.. hi» conduct gave a 
favourable report. His steady friend. Y:t 
Graham of Fintra, interposed his good offices 



a his s 



, lot givi 



iee?r ™d ™ 



= J1AM0XD CAIilXET LIERARY. 

: affairs call- 
F the people, 

•-- abdue 



Scene— A Fidd of Bailie—Time of the day, 
Evening-tlie liounded and dying ,./ the r«V- 

Farewell, thou fair day, thou green earth, and 



Thou prim king of terrors, thou life's gloomy 
Go. frighten the coward and slave ; 

No terrors hast thou to the brave ! 

Thoastrikest the dull peasant, he sinks in the 

1 e'en the wreck of a r 

" He falls in the blaze" of his fame ! 

In the field of proud tonour-our swords in 
our hands, 

\Vhile victor - Ebbing sands, 

O : who would not rest with ihe brave 1 * 

Though by nature of an athletic form, Eurns 
Jiad in his constitution the peculiarities and the 
delicacies that belong to the temperament of 

riodof life, to that interruption in the process 
of digestion, which arises from deep and anxious 

xomelimes the cause of depression of spirits. 
Connected with this disorder of the stomach, 
there was a disposition to head-ache, affecting 
more especially the temples and eye-balls, and 
frequently accompanied by violent and irregular 
movements of the heart. Endowed by nature 



is of mind. This predisj 



* This poem was written in 1791. It wa 

printed in Johnson's Musical Museum. Tb 

life, of printing it separately, set to music 

aged from it'. S fhe mart! 1 irSonr'-wl b. 

had not then acquired the tone necessary ti 
give popularity to this noble poem ; which, t. 
tne editor, seems more calculated to Snvigoral 






led and inflamed. Perpetually stimulated' by 
icohol in one or other of its various forms, the 
tordinate actions of the circulating system be- 
ame at lengih habitual : the process of nutri- 
on was unable to supply the waste, and the 
of life began to fail. Upwar 



cii" 


berc 


ur 


poet's 


ibere 


r 


\ 


ent de- 
*e, and 












:-J 




red, he 








sensible that b 


















ft 


r Uriah- 




ctear 


v',' 


re 


ieepest re 


gret c 


nh 




ogress, 


was 


'•!■- 


; ; 








- 


f mind 


iiiV 






now be 


avne ' 


,i' 


' 




gloo 






tied fr 






elf into 






of 


M- 


parTof 


nd. 


.'■,. 


d in sue 


'neT'i'n 


Una 




cV 


'wa?! 


'rried 


t 


'retort 


ach C 'the 


succ 


■edin 


gp 






b i 




ed pas- 



n ? But 1 



■'y- •'. 



In the midst of all his wanderii 

bss and forgiveness, except in th( 
' his own remorse. He acknov 
■ansgressions to the wife of his b 
lised amendment, and again and 
for his offence; 



strength of his tody decaved, his resolution 
became feebler, and habit acquired predomina- 

1 rem October, 17D2, to the January follow- 
ing, an accidental complaint confined h m to 
the house. A few davs after he began to go 
abroad, he dined at a tavern, and returned home 
about three o'clock in a verv cold morning, be- 
numbed and intoxicated. This was followed by 



-'-V. 




eek. H 










fail: 


his ll 


nd shook 


anu'h 
















His r 












d, and 




/the 








in the ha 


ids and feet, 




d'liv, 


.f i 


-;,,:;• 


oyment o 


f refre 

spirits 


and ir 


-;';.■;' 


Too 


■ f )/ 








riain 


lopes 


of 're'- 


Z". 


V, he 


of his far 


rilly!"! 


on Ihe 


spirit 


I^E 


' l't 


v.'d-' 


opel by' r 


iame o 


f his 


Vicnd 


, thai 


f lie 














the 6 


acceed 




nmigh 








h -:- 






ed. The gen 


il be 


ms of 








vigour 




his 1 


.nguid 


rirr 


ced h 


; , ;\ 


windb 


ew up 

Aim 


t'thi- 


\u£ 


:nd of Ju 






ed lo 


-■' : ,'' 


o" i'r -'. 
















v.'.-ll 


.f-T i 




try the 


tfft-ct 


'of I 


Pthin; 


;, iV 


"east 


IV.r li,i 
t Brow, 
of Uun.f 


;.ur r 


se be 


S" 


ip 1. - 
•t ll i 



BURNS LIFE. 



*Bom Ire lad TSot connecterTin frien 
the sympathies of kindred genius, was 
in the immediate neighbourhood. 1 



where he lodged, as he was unable to wal 
_•< I was struck, " says this lady (in a con 
dential letter to a friend written soon after 

The stamp of death was impressed on I 
features. He seemed already touching t 
brink of eternity. His first salutation w 
• Well, madam, have you any commands f 
the other world V I replied, that it seemed 

write my epitaph. (I was then in a po 
state of health.) He looked in my face «i 



oil his earthly prosp 
death without a.,., ..) 
eophy, but v 



about the care of hi 
larly the publicatio 
He said he was well 



id merit. Hi 

s'°fr h om S .he e: re : 
them all tin 
to do. Pass 



i from pouring forth all their v 






:;y other topics 
: on which he spoke.— 
'she adds, " « as kept up 



lble degree of vivacity in his sallies, and they 

aot the concern and dejection I could not dis- 
guise, damped the spirit of pleasantry he 



followed by a new i 
brought back to his 
on the 18th of July, 1 
stand upright. At tl 



general imp'reLon on'all^ 






On the evening of 
mains of Bums were 
i to the Town-Hall, i 












,n Saul': and three volleys fired 
ve, marked the return of Burns to 
trth ! The spectacle was in a high 
L and solemn, and accorded with 



a-S ^ DIAMOND CABLXET LIBRABY. 



father. The four 



Dumfries* "nd are er.j'oyiu^ thTm^Vedu- 
ca:.., , wil.ch the excellent schools of .li.it lor.n 

to ."he children of Barns, do" themselves great 

honour. Ou this occasion, the name of Mr 
Wh,te dese.-ves to be particularly mentioned, 
himself a poet as wel. as a man of sciture. * 

peudence of his split, and the exemplary pru- 

debt. He had received from his poem, a clear 
profit of about nine hundred pounds. Of this 

tio.is were found for two hundred pound, 



yed, his proud and feel.ng 



loftily to the world, a. 



the latter offspring, of i 
produced him considerable 
the year 1/do, the Editor < 



fifty two guineas per annum ; an offe 
the pr.de of gen. us disda.ned to acce, 
he had for several years furnished, a.,. 
that time furnishing, the Museum of 
w:lhh.s beautiful lyrics, without fee or 



for his 



nately refusing all recompensi 
nee to the greater work of Mr 
ch the justice and generosity of 
femes was preying upon him. 

proacuing distress of his infant family, preyed 
heavily on Burn, as he lay on the bed of death. 





igeo 




ot w 


rth 


pluckin 


J. Alas! I 










gh 


pon me 




deii 


--a-. 


his 


And 


ran 


.u"the eR 


zwe'mJzn- 


Holy 
ly p 


?J". 


t 'to* 


Ll, t" 


r= '.' 


- 


"ation^a^ri 


:uJui 














As 


'or 




pable 

IlrQ 1 


hs 
oft 




to his death 
of his office, 




hov 




toth 




onour, c 


uses. The 

outinued his 






M 




n of Fmtra, 


I! 


L? 


Iger 




h 


r£" 


he means of 










Whatever 


might be the 
















re'fo 


H" 


igst 

if tl 
I.e.. 


;.-h ? ' 


wh 




lined of Mr 
acy towards 



feeii-g,. : 


° 


5 




death of Bu 




Dumfries 




"pport of his wife and 


family ; 


nd Mr Mil 


er, Mr M'Murdo, l>r 


-Miiirte.l, 
Erst re=p 


aud .Mr S 


eiaie- "trustees for the 


ap^iici..,o 


of the moii 


y to lis proper objects. 




riplion was 




ot <.;,•.!.„ 


1, and of Li, 


'land also, parncu.arly 


Loudon a 




. By this means a 






iiis 


yes were large, dark, full of ardour aud 
igeuce. Us lace was well formed; an. 


<h- 


The letter to Mr Graham alluded lo above, 
edoo the 13th of July, and probably at- 
on the loth. Burns became delirious oa 

7lh or 18th, and fed oa the Mat. 



expressive. His mode of dressing, \ 



URNS. -LIFE. 

This, inde. 
happiest pbos 





ves speed- 


ly overawed by the presence of a 














■.. 






it where he saw it was willingly r 




though inaccessible 10 the approache 


s of pride 



1 ■ 



opinion!, were singularly candid and just ; I, lit, 

'■'■'■:■!'■ - 

V , ■ ■ i , ■ , , . 

and widely different from the calm dec 

his judgment. This was not merely true re- 



which in his social parties he seemed to exert | is great in the works of man, in literature, in 
on all around him. In the company of women 1 science, or in the face of nature. The occupa- 
this sorcery was more especially apparent, j lions of a poet arc not calculated to strengthen 



en that se 
ofpassion" 



Unfortunately the favou 



of It is observed by one who was a frie 



jailed. The charm arose not more from the greatly superior to those of men, could possibly 
wer than the versatility of his genius. No live and be happy in this world.—" If such a 
iguor could be felt in the society of a man being really existed, " continues he, " his misery 



DIAMOND CAEINET LIBRARY. 



it: obliged lo Seed on nourishment (oo grots 
for his frame ; he must be Lorn only lo Le 
miserable, and the c, nlii.i.auon ct hisiMsUnee 

dity of objecls Liid pursuits, the futility of 



which, while ibej it.foim the cndentaadiiig. 

tiuj.l.j il.e volition, that regulating power of 

iiy of which, virtue, happiness, Liid henour- 
aLle lame, are wholly dependent. Hence also 
the advantage of regular and consent . , plica- 
lion, which aids the voluntary power by '.he 



nay pur 
stanyol 



vilh conliden 



speculations of l\Jr 
i probably founded o 






experienc 

Ihe being he supposes. " willi senses more c 

and penetrating, " is lo te found in real life. 



by w hich the hap 



ility ? A 



: found, lhal regular and const* 
ksome though it may nt hrst 1 
n.edy. Occupation in which 



ctions. It may be generally 
d lo weak minds, winch, being 

the feeble impulses by which 
^."ec'f'lLU maxim ought .rc-_ 

also may be kept under con- 



tion, whether ihe Lent of the individual's ge- 
nius should Le follow ed ill his coucatinn (<:H 

CUM de Eplwroatque Theopumyo sicjidi- 
? peiie prariptti cohcta/it ut in aujincji- 



or ), tu'; i inaw 1 a Je .ha. VV £ 
application, His cone. 



d by ll. 



e faculty of 



d pro- 
ploys Ihe talents he has cultivated, 

I success, as are reasonably exptct- 

niinei.ee an.oi g men, which pro- 

,g repuh 
y. he ex 
, E fP 6 " CUCe 

'boic'e'or eib* 

ned, 1'y the dictates of 
nation is supposed, and; 
leading faculty of the 

i single (acuity f TMio 






3 f.l,i 



ry, even by the highesi 



ly their cemmand of all the sympalhi 






extended 


!o other walks of "life. He who'has I 


lie facul- 


which, duly governed and oinerently 


liiected. 


might lead lo pre-eminence iu other, an 




..,...,,.],., ... 








of an' Iliad, under dinerent discipline a 


dappli- 




tory, or 


(ingdenrs lo prosperity; might have 






red and 






and iDiJiove the condition of our 


pedes.-? 


^^^^IZ^^ 


ntended 

elled iu 



ftim iu id quo i-ocat 7. 
Iustit. ( rator. lib. i 



nt, mtlius iftcit 



ta acquiring this 
might have su 



BU11XS. 
Such taients, Lia, indeed, rare among ihe pro- 



cecessary to oratory are presupposed. In sup- 
condition, that he 






iern Europe, where the employments 

rriors of antiquity excelled in literature 
iratory. That tliey had the minds of gi 



gies of a great body of men, t 



ai talents, the principal objec 
the studies, more effectually 'perhaps than 



s of study, 
ting the poss 
id from besto 



■a ions, and 10 suffer life t 
hough men of genius a 



in and im. 
lent of sen- 
erameut of 



inclemencies of the elements, and which tri- 


lied. The unbidden splendours of imagination 


- die fear of death, the most power- 


may indeed at times irradiate the gloom -which 


ful "instinct of our nature. 


inactivity produces ; but such visions, though 


The authority of Cicero may be appealed to 




in favour of the close connection between the 
















See also, lib. iii. c 7. -It is true the example 


ful|Tr advenTures't'he m^t'tazardo™". 8 ' Hapl 






pier to him than idleness, were the condition 


Plutarch, did not meet the approbation of 


of the peasant, earning with incessant labour 


Juvenal, or of many others. Cicero probably 








the poet : but that he had the affintin, neces=ary 


by some, who -will be inclined to dispute the 


to poetical excellence, may be abundantly 






knowledge. On this occasion I may quote the 


the other hand, nothing is more clear, than 


following observations of Sir William Jones, 




whose own example will, however, far exceed 


mental qualities as an orator are included. It 


in weight the authority of his precepts. 


is said by Qninetilian of Homer, OninAns do- 




i. 47. The stuay' of Homer 'is Therefo're re- 


that several persons of uncommon genius were 


ambitious of learning the art of poetry from so 


commended to the orator, as of the first iuipor- 


able an instruct, r. His mu = t illustrious scho- 




lars were Feleki and Khakani, who were no 








than for their skill in every branch of pure and 




mixed mathematics, and particularly in astro- 




nomy ; a striking proof that a sublime poet 




may become master of any kind of learning 




which he chooses to profess; since a fine 


we point out by name a character which may 


imagination, a lively wit, an easy and copious: 






*j!.i-r ' i..iug for the universality of genius. 




The identity, or at least the great similarity 


assist him in his studies, and shorten hU 


of the talents necessary to excellence in poetry. 


labour." Sir W'uliam Jones's Works, \VU 



DIAMOND CAi:i\*ET LI3HAUT. 



his scanty foo;l ; or that fif the sailor, though 
hanging on ihe yard-arm and wrestling wuh 

These observations might be amply illustrat- 
ed by the biography of men of genuis of e-.n , 
denomination, and more csp.-ciully by the bio- 
graphy of the poets. • Of this last description 
of men, few seem to have enjoyed the usual 



muse in which al 


the fac 


lties of the mi 


lave been fully a 


ad perm 


nently employe 








ence, do not seen 




of bestowing, 














hi exercise to the 1 




f body and mil 


rhe amiable Sheus 







of his 

unhappiness, amidst the shades of the Lea; 
owes ;' and the virtues, the learning, and tli 

lion,' would have doubtless obtained. 

It is more necessary that men of geniu 
should be aware of the importance of .sell-coin 
inand, and of exertion, because their indoh-iic 
is peculiarly exposed, not merely to unhappi 

Tally fatal. This'inler 



sting subject desei 



Relief 



with o 



to alter the effect of the externa? iinpr.-^i ,us 
v. hich we receive. Opium i, chieliy .emplo;, cd 

ous liquors, is preferred in Europe, and is uni- 
versally used in the Chriitian world, f Under 



a display of the 
highly inotruc- 

r of other sub- 



The effects of wine and of opium'on the'tem'- 
lieramc.it' of sensibility, the Editor intended to 

but he found the subject too professional io be 
is'rodueed with propriety. The diliiculty of 



and under the gloomy appro- 
ving futurity to which it is so 

ow strong is the temptation to 
> an antidote by which the pain 



- prowess, and superior star 



Unmans 

fei 

When, t 



und Cithscr. 



Such are the pleasures and tl 





ice could have dictated. There are. 


indeed 








On so 




its effe 


cts are painfully irritating;" in ]a. L . 








Jo,es still larger, the lierceness of in- 




self. Such men are happily exempted 


from a 


emptation, to which experience teaches 


abando 


ling any of these narcotics, (if we may 








abit, is well known. Johnson, in his 








ous influence of wine, and, by apower- 


till effi 


rt, abandoned it. He was obliged, 


howeve 


miner his habitual melancholy. Tin 


course' 



he theme of tfc 
■o.npany, whci 



nis delirious imaginations. Hence the win 

Jiber of opium, a distinction which he ow. 
more to {.he form, than to the quality of h 



EURMS.— LII'E. 



s tb« finest dispositions often yield, an 
afluence of which, when strengthened by habit, 

ill minds have not been' able to resist. 



s the more necessary for them to guard 



writings of Mr Burns. ' The inspiring man- 

• at his plough'»| has been the portion of few; 
may be the portion of fewer still ; and if it is 
true that men of genius have a claim in their 
literary capacities to the legal right of the Bri- 

tried oidy by his peers, ( 1 borrow here an ex. 
'r privilege of silting upon 



justify my 

( .npnrt.n;;ty 



ury. 



il years pasi 









ever (he scene of his happy qualities ant 
i errors, 1 have never had the smallest ci 

" It will be the misfortune of Burns' repi 
n, in the records of literature, not onl, 

m with his native Scotland and a numbe: 






r/e.b. 




ti. 


re is an awfu 


s 


nctil; > 




S til 




anstons of the 














-' 


aves' of 








reflect with h 




lity on 








or forget how 
















nd the 


pa.uv 


they 




called upon to t 




ow. 



Soon after the death of Burns, the followin; 
icle appeared in the Dumfries Journal, frou 
ii=h ii was copied into the Edinburgh news 
pers, and into various other periodical pub 
ations. It is from the elegant pen of a lad 
eady alluded to in the course of these me 
tirs,* whose exertions for the family of ou 
rd, in ihe circ.es of literature atid'fashioi 

"It is no! probable that the late mournful 
;nt, which is likelv to be felt severely ii 
;rary world, as well as in the circle of 



privedof the advantages of a classical educs 
-on, and the ,..tercour s e of minds congeni. 
> his own, till that period of life, whe 
is native tire had already blazed forth in a 
s wild graces of genuine simplicity and en 

, that even when all his honours are yielde 



it poetry was (I appeal to all who had the 

i.r being personally acquainted with 

^na) actually not his forte. If otners have 

imbed more successfully to the heights of Par. 



"■ - --us were perfectly correspondent with 

icationsof his m, mi. His form was 

Jolish, acquired only in the refinement of so- 
cieties, where in early life he had not the op- 






Prefatory Address to the Noblemen and Gentle- 



p. of the 



men of the Caledonian Hun 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBKARY. 



:ess of his binh and c 
gn exercise of agric 



n the temper of his oompanior.s took th 
t two classes of objects, thos 



a UK 









indeed) had al 



had ofteu spited with th< 
unbounded iu its intellec 

by the waywardness or hi; 



with themelody of 

t of satire was, I 
r to say his forte or 

m^t p^«£exceV 

ersonal, and sonie- 
is. It was not only 



sceptiozablY 

is judgi 



a placed beyond the grasp of pen 



lg as they disclosed theinselv 
Hipathy, the object of enthus 



or of a 
most uncontrollable ; and it has been fre- 
illy asserted of him, that, unsusceptible ol 

i despised, he alternately opened his heart, 

it that had singularly adapted him to cher 

in of the surly' Uoc 
long as the disposi 
; but the fervour o 






rsatility. He wa 
acable in his resei 

fuTakfoVhis in! 

I am inclined to b 

a a levity of sei 

lositj of feeling, 



from its never be 
His mind, organi: 
more acute operati 

and equally super 

the mazes of hypi 
" It has been ol 






from his lips or pen, that the history of the 
Ayrshire ploughboy was an ingenious fiction, 
fabricated for the purposes of obtaining the in- 
terests of the great, and enhancing the merits 
of what in reality required no foil. The Cot- 

possessed none of that negative insipidity of ; Mc ies a number 'of later 

character, whose love might be regarded with ': productions, where the maturity of his genius 

indifference, or whose resentment could be j will be readily traced, and which will be givea 

«ouiidered with contempt* Iu this it should | to the public as soon as bis friends have collected 



BURNS — LIFE 



nil arranged them, speak sufficiently for them- 
dves ; and had they fallen from a hand mole 
Unified in the ranks of society than that of a 
easant, they had perhaps bestowed as unusual 

istic" inspiration from whence they really 



only surviving brother, "Gilbert Burns', nov 
guides the ploughshare of his forefathers ii 






Iwniin authors only t^ 



and their writers were the subjects of discus- 
sion. When I have pressed him to tell me 
why he never took pains to acquire the Latin, 



he used only to reply \ 
alrea.ij knew all the Lati 



of nature's creation, has been the rallying po 
where the attacks of his censors, both p.. 

it" ni'usYVe confessed, he showed himself 
stoic His poetical pieces blend with aitern 
happiness of description, 



larities, as that their absolution may in a 
measure be justly claimed, since it is ee 
that the world had continued very static 



* This very respectable and very superi 
an is now removed to Dumfriesshire. 1 
nls lands on the estate of Closeburo, and is 
uant of the venerable Dr Mouteith. 
t This destination is now altered. 









patible: besides, 






shade over superio 






ously glaring, that 


where the 


y are the attend- 


ants of mere medio 




only on the gem 


we are disturbed 






may be soiled, a 


d we nev 


•r mind it. The 


the soul to the w 




c'ence of'Tes.Fes'f 


always unbounde 




metimes equally 


dangerous to the r 




ers as fatal to its 


own. No wonde 




virtue herself be 




be blaze o 




tiou, or that the ca 




us of reason were 


uot found suffice 






which scorned the 






that would chain 


it to the 


level of ordinal y 



frequent error, 5 his own oriless 

apology in terms more forcible, than all the 



Misled by Fancy 's meteor ray, 



ave already transgressed far beyond the 
ing to paper these sketches, which 






Sri, 



,... g ...= , u ^ ...„~= „. poesy 



'its germs; to the perfecting of thosa 



which he will be found to have merited by the 
is countrymen ; and where a kin- 
dred bosom is found that has been ta ught to 
glow with the fires that animated Burnss, 



DIAMOND CABINET LiEEA! 



byrinlbs of the human bee 
■y alike in trembling hope repcsi 



Ihe bosom t'f his latin 



character of Burns, it may be exr 
merits. It will not however be m 



,, yet the subjects on 



applied to the man, are applicable, with 

variation, to the poet. 

'ihe impression of his birth, and cf h : 



- 

s jit-Te of the pomp or^ ha?mo^rf ira^f 

ange and uncouth. The greater part of 1 



rally therefor 






of vulgarity 

•liat = approacres to nakedness, and with an un- 

proachinghi is perl aps 



even on the lowe t sol r 

sentiment, and delineations of manner.:, which 

are highly inteiesting. The scenery he de- 

• . t leu from real life ; the 


■ -[ - 
u t ns cf te crn ss wth which g tic 
humour so happily unites. Nor is this the ex- 
tent of his power. The reader, as he examines 


Every where he appears devoid of artifice, 
performing what he attempts with little appa- 
rent eliort ; and impressing on the offspring of 
his fancy ihe slaw,, of Ids mwstavtiin?. '1 he 
reader, capable of forming a just estimate of 

■■■■"• 

g < ality. This last point we shall 


That Burn's bad not the advantages of a 

tance with the Greek or Komanwrilers in their 
original dress, has appeared in the history of 

of the I-'iench language, out it does not appear 

literature, nor is there any evidence of his hav- 


source. A\ itli the I'ngiish classics he became 


style of his poetry were formed very early, and 
the model which he followed, in as far as he 


rks of the poets who baNe written in 
the Scottish dialect- in the works of such of 
them, more especially, as are familiar to the 


'J he studies of the editor in this direction are 


would 1 ha e ve b"en n i t u 1 pr'.udem r for'him To' have' 


ness of Mr Ramsay" of (Jehte'rlyre, whose assis- 


! perfect sketch of literary 


which does not seem lo he satisfactorily ex- 
plained, that in the thirteenth century, the 

language ot the two Bril.sh nations, it at all 

the one,' like the AVelch and A'rmcric m the 
other, being conlined to Ihe mountainous dis- 


* Historical Essays on Scottish Song, p. 20, 
by Mr Ritson. 



as remote as in England. Barbour and Blind 
Harry, James the Pint, Dunbar, Douglas, and 

L ,„>u- , v.b,. Med in ihe fourteenth, hfteen'h, 

eenth centuries, were coeval with the 

father? of poetry in England; and in the 

opinion of Mr Wharton, not inferior to them 

i.i genius or in composition. Though the 

the difference on the whole was not consider- 
able ; nor perhaps greater than between the 
different dialects of the different parts of Eng- 






of Hawthornden, the only Scotsni 
They smuied 'the language of Englai 



in that century. The muses of Scotland =uuk 
into silence, and did not again raise their voices 
for a period of eighty years. 

To what causes are we to attribute this ex. 
treme depression among a people cn:u r ...ratively 
learned, enterprises:, and hiaei.i u- : Shail 
we impute it to the fanaticism of the cove- 
after their restoration to the throne ? Doubt- 
less these causes operated, but they seem un- 
equal to account for the effect. In England, 

yet poetry flourished there iu a remarkable 
* e. g. The Ambers of the Drtitics roctanm 



LIFE. CI 

egree. During this period, Cowley, and 
,\aller, and Dry den sung, and Wilton raised 
lis strain of unparalleled grandeur. To the 

dded, iu accounting for the torpor of Scottish 
iterature— the want of a proper vehicle for 



lis lite,. 



e Latin 
.tablished of t 



osition lately presented to them by the 

trly in the periodical papers published by 
•utle, Auuison, and their associated friends, 



length, the Scott si 



wire only* laying" in 'then- tateUecHMl,.-s^ 

and studying 1o clear themselves of their Scot- 
tish idioms, Thomson, Mallet, and Hamilton 



British literature. Scotland possessed her 

1. ur universities before the access.on of James 
to the English throne. Immediately before the 
union, she ac,i..re,i her parochial schools. 

easy acquisition, and presented a direct path, 
L;. which the ardent student might be carried 



dice gradually died away, a 



ii seems indeed probable, that the establish-: 

though less '-■ ]■'■'!" ar»"..o: 

however to be regarded as trivial, whether «e 

people. 

There is some reason to believe, that the 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRAE V. 

iionof thesoul. 



I, the ! 






only, and pro- 
bably produced by the influence of tin;", like 
the different dialects of their common language. 
If this conjecture be true, the Scottish music 
must be more immediately of a Highland 
origin, and the Lowland tunes, though now of 



like ; such as the Hwntis of Chevi 
iiallle of llarlaw. After the union 



though with a hast; 
ars that agitate the b 
lin, or forlorn maiden 



affected simplicity and tenderness, topics are 

and coy mistress, or to regain a tickle lover. 
Even in such as are of a melancholy cast, a ray , 
of hope breaks through, and dispels the deep 
and settled gloom which characterizes the 
sweetest of the Highland lucnags, or vocal airs. 

them are lively and humorous, and some appear 



words after the 


anion of the 


crowns. 


The i 


habitants of tb 




vho had 


former 






and hus 


andm 






d the cou 




were transform 


nees, and 


hepherds, 


h tb 


lot. Some sp 




"spirit of 




for which they 




>.ed by F 




remained suffic 








timent and gall 








familiarity and 


■ ■ ■ . : 




»' 




the gentry 






could not all a 


once be o 




nd 1 








S;S 


rfpoetryan 


ind tranqt 
it w'onld 


- 






the more 




state of society. 


Toe mins 










(he bordc 






ound, had been, by an 




the Legislature 


(-1579) clas 


ed with rogues a 


■vagabonds, an 








Knox and his d 


-t ;m,- .Ml 


enced the 


' 



.8 Banks of the Tw< 



»-a. Neither Lowa to the 

nor patronized by the great, Ibes? rustic " 



than flights of in 
rs. Great change 
n Scottish so„g-w 



.red in Queen Mary's 



It'Ts possible, though not p°robable" that tha 
"'These conjectures are highly ingenious. It 



ily on the union of the ti 
ing the greater part of tl 
The Scottish nation, 
s deeply agitated by ll 



f Extract of a letter from Mr Ramsey of 
Ochterlyre to 'the Editor, Sept. 11,1799. I» 
the Bee, Vol. II. p. 201, is a communication 
of Sir Ramsay, under the signature of J. Run- 



L'URNS.— LIFE. 



md the religious f 
each other iu th; 
not till after the 



tion, and the Union, produced a favourable 
change on the rustic poetry of Scotland ; and 

sh schools in 1696,' bv which a certain 
degree of instruction was diffused universally 
among the peasantry, contributed to this happy 
effect. 

Soon afler this appeared Allan Ramsay, the 

high mountains that divide Clydesdale and 



and the poverty of his parents admitted, -t- 
Ramsay made his appearance in Edinburgh, 

be was then fourteen or fifteen years of age. By 



profession for that of a tool 
me intimate with many of the 1 
as of the gay and fashionable 



ancient Scottish poems, under the title of the 
Ever-Green, and was afterwards encouraged 
to present to the world a collection of Scottish 



&s in the Ever -Green he made some rash 
ancient poems, he probably used still greater 

* See CmnpieH's History of Poetry in Scot- 
tend, p. 185. 

f 1 he father of Mr Ramsay was, it is said, 



thousand volumes. When th ; s was instituted, 
I have not learned. These miners are said tc 
be of a very sober and moral character. Allar 
Ramsay, when very young, is supposed to hav( 
been a washer of ore in these mines. 

± «' He was coeval with Joseph Mitchell, 
and his club of smalt wits, who, about 1719, 
I a verv poor miscellany, to which Di 
Young, the author of the A7gA( Tnceklc, 
.prefixed a copy of verses. ' ' E-r'r. rt if a kt!-;t 
from Mr Ramsay nf Oehterlyre to th: Editor-. 



free.. 


cannot, however, be knov 




rhe 


rill 11 


anuscripts of the songs 
ancient than the present 




be 


prod 


ced, or access be cbtai 


tied to hie 




F .;., 


s, if they are still in 




To 










Lad' 




r or imperf 




he or 


his friends adapted verse 


,5*52* 






iies they accompanied, w 




of 


the g 


olden age. These verses 










d^dt'Lmas 




bype 


rsonsVtaYtZ who"Yegar 




the 


genu 


ne offspring of the pas 




In 




respects, Ramsay had 






posse 


ssed by poets writing in the Scottish 




lect 


n our davs. Songs in 






Cum 


wrland or Lar.easiore, 


could never 




popu 




have never 1 






n by persons of fashion 


. But till 
very Scotsrc 


an! 




the peer to the peasant 




l.ly 




language. It is true, til 






ralis 


s and poets were by th 




as 


thTs 


andards for polite coinpo 










rong, the b 




thel 


arned, the gay, and the 


fair, couth 






eak their native dialect, a 


id that with 






nee and poignancy of wh 


ch Scotsme 


1 of 






t notion. 












of Lencbat, a schola 


nan of fash 






survived all the member 


3 of the U 




Pari 










iation and phraseology d 






from 


the common d:alect, as 


he languag 


e of 


St J 


ames 's from that of Than 


os Street. 


I-.d 




etained a court and parliar 


lent of our o 






ongo.es of the two sister 


intones w 






d have differed like th 


e Lastiliar. 




Port 


ignese; but each vvoolc 
ics, not in a si-nnle bra 


clTbut'in 


"the 


whole circ 








K-!tn,'i associated with 


the men of 




and 


fashion of his day, and 


several of t 






npted to write poetry 


n his man 




Pers 




tiled to thin 


: of 


Com 


ede^^ryhappiWi-rmra 


ins tender 


Z- 






pliment to their 
























year 1731, Robert Crav 


•ford cf Au 








of T:eeei;> 


: ::, 6 






red. In 1 




Sir Gilbert Elliot, the first of 






both 


spoke and wrote F.r.s\\=h 






K; 


rj, in the character of a lo 


T:;;';,V 


he* 


I Of 




riage of his 






. Siiss Forbes, with R 


uaid L'rav. 












Pine 


ir (,;:lort wro'te the uu.it 
of the Flowers of the Fo 


.7 words to 


sop' 




d to allude to the battle of Flow den. 




spit 


of the double rhyme, it 


is a sweet, 


at.d 


dole 


Beginning, What leautie 


d ics Flora 


dU- 










' i: 


leVginniii-, I have heard 








-milkins. 







DIAMOND CABLET LIBRARY. 



i. parts allegorical, s 



craft of the present century, all of wli 

company, though when I saw her, i 
very old. Much did she know that is n 



Hardi;:,.ru', L « Lacs ANaiL.av,; [he Laliad of 
\WJtum ai.d Margaret; and the song entitled 
the Bhks of huermai,, by iWai.a ; ....,.- 
-'-ling, Fo, 



pi-ore, produce 


1 by the youlkful 


mus 


of 11 


, L , 




exquisite pathe 






iAe 


I' roes */ Yarr 


ow. by Hainilto 


1 of 


Bang 








otlai 






orient to the U 


ion, a very gene 








to have prevai 






= '-'■? = 








»>i 


liui 




"the singing 


f songs was th 




at de 


W~| 


L well at of th 


e' peasantry" aiidlho' 


Va 


for Italian m 


asic has interfe 










s still very preva 




Between 


forty and fifty 






on pe 




ballads, lul'of 


exceeding^ fond 
nornofyorUhfl 


of 


da'" 


el, 


with delight, v 






.g tL 














runs. Lord Hailcs was wont 








Harry their El- 






it la' 




ite next the Sc 


ipures. When 


















though the"seeo 


s of poetry were 


SCUt 


ere'd 


But 

Mill 


*e product wa. 


among the Sec 
probably like th 


^0. 


pears 


and 


apples— of a t 






Lr ' ^ 










eeth 


on edge ; forty 


e rest of an exc, 


l : > 


fl.e: 


am. 


Allan Ramsay 


ind Burns are u 










Ihey had the 




pie of 


the 


the aid of the b 


poets; they wet 
est English writ 






hat 



poems, under the .a me of The itc,--C>,.. 
his collection tf Scotiuh = ..ngs, and his ov 
poems, the principal of which is the Get.. 
Stephen', have been universally read ainoi 

degree"! uperseded tfce°adv emure 's of" Br i c e' "" ' 



1 by I 



Harry. Burns was «< 
these. lie had also befol 

arj to give a shoi 



rith all of 



the pot 

:- which 
id of which 

rcrgus,on«asbcrnof 

-jproourehiuiaiLcraij 



plies no very high rank in society. From a we! 
written and apparently authentic account of hi 
life,* we learn that he spent six years at th 
schools of Edinburgh and Dundee, and severs 
years at the Universities of Edinburgh and £ 



man no situation could'Lmore dangerous than 
that in which he was p.aeed. Ihe excesses 
into which he was led. impaired his ic-tlle 



pcems of this youthful genius when he him: 

thein, he had J^n/ced'the mutes. * But wl 
be icsidcd in the town of Irvine, meeting w 

■ - : . ■;■ .• . -.,; y. ... . i..' : . . ;, 

be -strung his lyre anew with emulating 

FnTindredZniu^ 'tn^ u ?^?ole*taS»■ ,, 

similar fortune, Burns regarded Fergus: 



1 see they ore chieliy humor- 
.= .n^:""h.f m pcemAviil 
T/tW^Jn'te rfvrew' and 



only when applied tc 



t the dialect of Scotland 

ct t . If 



In the Supplement to the Encyc'.ofccdia 
arnica. Site' also, CautLelt s luhoamik/t 
i History of Poetry ra Scotland, p. 26b. 

subject by J.'r Tytier, the Editor acknow- 



BURNS LIFE. 



Scotland, this accomplished monarch, -who 
had received an English education under the 
direction of Henry the Fourth, and who bore 

ScoXuT had been formed. Christis Kirk 
of the Grene was reprinted by Ramsay, 
bomewhat modernized in the orthography, 
and two cantos were added by him in which 



of the highest order; nor i 



II the 1 



after- 



affray. Ramsay relates the restoration ot con- 
the humours^ o7 Tcountry weddVng^L" gh 

awry suffieten I uniformity S °a sinking proof 
of the identity of character in the Scottish 
peasantry at the (wo periods, distant from 
each other three hu ndred years. It is an hon- 



an amusing and interesting species of poetry; 
and it must appear not a little curious, that the 

sesses an original poetry, should have re- 
ceived the model, followed by their rustic bards, 

The two additional cantos to' Christis Kirk 

Of the Grene, written by Ramsay, though ob- 
jectionable in point of aehcacy, arc among the 

]e?c P erii.d eed?lay in' C tre''desciMption le of e r X ural 
characters, incidents, and scenery ; for he did 

non or of understanding, He was 
well acquainted with the peasantry of Scot- 



equal to the subject ; and 
may be happily adapted 
In his Gentle shepherd, tb 
lineations from 



le of beautiful simpiic.i', , 
the passions and affections of rural life are 
finely pourtrayed, and the heart is pleasingly 

r of reality which the most care- 



Jess reader ca 



;r perhaps acquire 



siderable attraction. The story of the Monk 
and the Miller's Wife, though somewhat licen- 

of Prior or La Fontaine. VuTwhen hV'a'l- 
tempts subject, from higher liie, and aims at 
pure English composition, he is feeble and tin. 

eg'ies in the Scuttisb/dialect entitled to much 
approbation. _ Though Fergusson had higher 



lish, in which lie often follows classical mo- 
Ramsay, seldom rise above mediocrity ; Lut in 

often very successful. He was, in general, 
however, less 1; in the sllb- 

m' his hie 'n^FdinLurgh^and v?a\e io/l .'.s 

sipaliou, his Scottish poems are eliiehy l„i 

not mjmil o"f those delineations of scenery 'and 
manners, which vilify ihe rural poetry of 



?s of Fergusson, if we i 
■t faith' 
1 by a 



-he Daft Days, 

The Kings Birth-day in Edinburgh, L< iih 
Ilaees, and The Hattoic Fair, will justify this 
character. In ih-se, parl.cularh in the last, 
he imitated Christis Kirk of ihe Grene, as 
Ram av hail done before him. His Address to 
Ine Tnm-kirk Bell is an exquisite piece of hu- 
mour, which I. urns lias scarcely excelled. In 
appreciating the genius of Fergusson, it ought 

less efiusions of'an irregular though amiable 
young man, who wrote for the periodical pa- 
pers ,.f the day , and who died in caily youth. 



r" 


iTmuel 




he would 


probably have 
1. He might 




excelled 
es„ed past 




| It 1 


ar though his 
I,* TheVar". 




"/"'./ ,T 




nay le c 


usidered as a 


pro" 


lish pasto 


id 'cert 


the happ 

inly was 


the archetype 




be Cotter' 




ay Might 


Fergusson, 


The 


more espe 


cially B 
nd man 


uers'of th 


I peaTamry of 


ada 


land, of 


",', i>' 


, "the 'day 


are as well 
of Ramsav, 






tho'r ot 


Christis 


Kirk of the 


Gr 










1 






s is of a r 




Ilia 




or Fe 




.th of whom, 


a = 


e himself 


"forms 


us, he ha 


i "frequently 



every species of poetical excellence. In one of 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



d him tbe gentleman and scholar. " 
d though he is, he is however full of 



Aye -rat him friends in ilka place; 
His breast was white, his towsie back, 
Weel clad wi' coat o' glossy black; 
His gaiccie tail, to? upward curl, 
Hung o'er his hurdies wi' a swirl. " 

' Never were hva dogs so exquisitely del 
led. Their gambols, before they sit dov 
moralize, are described with an equal degi 

the character, as well as the different cone 
comforts of the poor, gives tbe followin} 



"That merry day the y( 
They bar the d»r on fro 
The nappy reeks wi' ma 



That I for joy hoe barkit tc 



from his superior sagacity, as from his being, 
more than any other, the friend and associate 
of man. The dogs of Burns, excepting ir 
their talent for moralizing, are downright 
dogs ; and not like the horses of Swift, or the 
Hhid and Panther of Dryden, men in the 
shape of brute?. It is this circumstance thai 
heightens the humour of the dialogue. The 

eyes, and the contrast between their form anc 
character as dogs, and the sagacity of theii 
conversation, heightens the humour, and deep- 
ens the impression of the poet's satire. Thougt 
in this poem the chief excellence may be con- 
sidered a9 humour, yet great talents are dis- 
played in its composition ; the happiest power: 
of description and the deepest insight into thi 



the humour of Burns appears in 
form. Tbe liveliness of his sei 
quently impels him to introduce int 



rt the higher powers of in 



nation. In such in 
of Ramsay and of Fergusson, and associate's 
himself with the masters of English poetrv, 
whose language be frequently assumes. 

Of the union of tenderness and humour, ex 
amoles may be found in The Death c 
Words of poor Mailie, In The aitld Farmer's 
New-Year's Morning Salutation to his Hare 
Maggie, and in many of his other poems. The 



with singular liveliness and power 

its stimulating effects on the blacksmith work- 



•'Nae mercy, then, 


for aim or steel ; 


The brawnie, bainie 




Brings hard owre-hi 


p, wi' sturdy wheel, 


The stron 


g fore-hammer, 


Till block an- studdi 


b ring and reel. 



Dtsman frae his hill, 
a Highland gill,f 
.1 George's will, 



<Nae cauld, faint-hearted doublings te 
Wi' bluidy hand a welcome gies hi 



Again, howe 
concludes the 
laughable, but 



ir, he sinks into humour, 
>em with the following i 
ost irreverent apostrophe : 



re nobility as well as gentry are to be se 
as concluded that the race-ground had b 
field of his observation. This was sa 



BURNS.-LirE. 



Ye tin; jour dan, ; 
and Whisky gang thfgitber, 
Tak'aff your drain!" 



Of this 



i the higher 



Scotch. This 



- 



andDr Hornbook, 

the De'il, one of the happiest of his produc- 
tions. After reproaching this terrible being 
wiih all his "doings" and misdeeds, in the 

of Scottish superstitions, and rises at times into 

not altogether unmixed with apprehension, in 
the following words: 

«« Bat, fare ye weel, auld Nickie-ben t 
O wad ye tak a thought an' men' ! 
Ye aiblins might-1 dinna ken- 

Still hae a stake— 
I'm wae to think upo' yon den 



le old and young, 
s and manners wit 

scold each other 



| all before their sight 



Adown the glittering stream they featly danced; 

glanced ; 
They footed o'er the wat'ry glass so neat, 
The infant ice scarce bent beneath their feet ; 
While arts of minstrelsy among them rung. 
And soul-ennobled Bards heroic ditties sung. " 



i say w 



preponderates. 

Fergusson wrote a dialogue between the 
Causeway and the Plainsloms * of Edinburgh. 
This probably suggested to Burns his dialogue 
between the Old and New Bridge over the 

Fergusson has attempted nothing beyond this. 
Thongh the Causeicay and the Plabatom s talk 
o attempt is made to personify the 



" The Genius of the Stream in front appears, 
k venerable chief, advanced in years; 
His hoary head with waler-lilies crown'd, 
His manly leg with garter tangle bound. ' ' 

Next follow a number of other allegorical 
eings, among whom are the four seasons, 
Rural Joy, Plenty, Hospitality, and Courage. 






cadi,' 



! town of Ayr, and wande 
nlone in the darkness and solitude of a 
night, to the mouth of the river, where the 
stillness was interrupted only by the rush- 
ing sound of the inilux. of the tide. It was 
after midnight. The Dungeon-clock i had 

by Wallace-Tower. P All else was hushed. 
The moon shone brightly, and 



Benevolence, with mild benignant air, 
A female form, came from the tow 'rs of Stair ; 
Learning and Worth in equal measures trode, 
From simple Catrine, their long-loved abode : 
Last, white-robed Peace, crown'd with a 

To rustic Agriculture did bequeath 
The broken iron instrument of Heath ; 
At sight of whom oar Sprites forgat their kind- 
ling wrath. " 

serve to illustrate the genius of Burns. In 
:ular, it affords a striking instance of his 



probably conceived, 



walked upon thein. Burns 



In this situation, the listening hard hears the 
" clanging sugh" of wings moving through 
the air, and speedilv he perceives two beings, 
reared, the one on "the Old, the other on the 
New Bridge, whose form and attire he 

other he rehearses. These genii enter into a 



ess of night ; and this led our poet into a 

in a bighde g ree , "th" , |owS™of his'imagina- 

tion. During the whole dialogue the scenery 
is present to his fancy, and at length it sug. 
gests to him a fairy dance of aerial beings, 
under the beams of the moon, by which the 
wrath of the Genii of the Bre'gs of Ayr is ap- 

Incongruous as the different parts of this 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

11 as in (he inte 
of incidents so . 



are supposed 1c 


afford 


n insight in. 


" futurity, 


especially on t 


arf b ™ 


t of marriage 
ral life. In 








performing 


ne of the 






go out by mc 


onlight to 


dip her shift-s 






wards the South. 1 1 




essary for 


Burns to gnej 




ion of this str 


am. But 






his ardent mi 




forth not mer 


"'"hat 


the occasion 


required, 



" Whyles owre a linn the burnie clays, 
As through the glen it wimplet j 

"Whyles round the rocky scaur it stravs 
Whyles inawielitaimplet; 

AY by Its glitter 'd to the nightly rays, 



) understand the Scottisl 



ibomson s description o 


f a river swollen by 


the rains of winter, b 


ursting through the 


Etreisrbt= that confine it 


torrent, -boiling, 


wheeling, foaming, and t 


hundering along, "t 




t^more correctly, in 


rural pottry of a serious n 




equal lv as in that of a 1 




using less of the Scottish 






generally intelligible. 


It is difficult to decide wh 




House whust itcti v:us;uri 


ed up with the plough, 



still celebrated. It is 



i cautos, from which a beat 
n by Mr Mackenzie, in the 
Louttser, is a poem of grea 



" There, lanely, by the inzle-cheek, 

I sat and eyed the spewing reek, 

That bird wi' hoast-proinking smeel 

That auld clay biggi 

An' heard the restless rations squeak 

About the riggia. ' 

To reconcile to our imagination the enl: 
an aerial being into a mansion of this 
inired the powers of Burns-he, how 

itude, and dress, unl'ike those of other 
tal beings, are distinctly portrayed. T 



led him into these exuberances. In his second 

nallv introduced, that he miirhl include objects 
to Which he ivl. attacked lr. =er.timenis of af- 
fection, gratitude, or patriotism. "Ihe second 
Duan, or canto of this poem, in which Coila 
describes her owa nature and occupations, par- 

iuT'andiuwhX^ 

of poetry, ranking in all respects, excepting the 
harmony of numbers, with the higher produc- 
tions of the English muse. the concluding 
stanza, compared with that already quoted, 



Did rustling play ; 
a passing thought, she fled 
In light away." 



In various poems Burns has exhibile'd the 
picture of a mind under the deep impression of 
real sorrow. The Lament, the Ode to Rum, 
Day mdena/, and W.nler, a Dirge, are of this 

e girth stanza, which describes a sleepless night 
from anguish of mind, is particularly striking. 



J See the first ISyllhm of TheocrUus. 



BURNS LIFE. 



t o congenial lo the temperament of sensibility. 


h 






uriords an instance of this kind, and The Win- 




ter Xi?ht is of the same description. The 








per of nund, and of the condition of Burns. 




It begins with a description of a dreadful siorm 












howi ng. In th.s b tualiun, he naturally turn. 








ally i bleep, exposed to all the -violence of 




the tempest. Having- lamented their fate, he 




proceeds in the following : 




" Ilk happing bird— wee helpless thing ! 




'ihat in the merry months o' spring 




Delighted me to hear thee sing, 




Whare wilt thou cow 'r thy cluttering wing. 


i 


Au' close thy e'e?" 


1 


Other reflections of the same nature occur to 




























reflection. The mourner compares the fury of 








man, ami uuds the former light in the bal- 




ance. 




•• See stern Oppression's iron grip, 








Sending, like blood-hounds from the slip, 




Woe, want, and murder, o 'er the land. 




He pursues this train of reflection through a 








he introduces the following animated apos- 




« ye ! who, sunk iu beds of down, 


1 


Feel not a want but what you.selves create, . 




Ihink, for a moment, on hi* wretched tate, 




Whom friends and fortune uuile disown ! 








Stretch 'd on his straw he lays him down to 




AVhi^thrV the ragged roof and chiuky wall, 




Chill o'er his slumbers piles the unity 




The strain of sentiment which runs through 








unequal, and the verification is defective. 




Among the senous poems of Kurn=, The 








the lirst rank. The Farmer s J/igie of l-'er- 




gusson evidently suggested the plan of this 
























ters and manners happily portrayed, and ex- 




* Ourie, out-lying. Ourie Cultle, Cattle 








•f- Silly is iu this, as in other places, a term 




«if companion and endearment. 


I 



: eke their tales gae or 



And there how Marion, for a basta 

Upon the cutty stool was forced 

The waefu' scauid o' our JUcss 

The «■ Guidame " is next intro 



O mock na this, my friends ! but 

Ye in life's brawest spring wi' 

Wi' eild our idle fancies a' return, 



.g day. The h 
. ■> and g'«s her 



iger returning from his labours, has 
» to accompany him, lo partake of 
to receive hi, ,n = lruclium,. The 
h he joins, is composed of his wife 

u only ; and if it admits of less va. 

ih.a n;ore',lronilj^ui J e r rest 1 'th°e e af-i 



s of the most 
ist happily del 



wider cir 


cle roui 


d their 1 




and uniting in 


the worship of 








]y affecti 


gof a 


y which 


the 






ented to 


the view. B 




obly ada 








. Like all men 




he was 


of the 




rament of devo- 




ince with these 




} [y C of h < is a heart' 3 




fervour 


of his 


itnag 


nation.* Tht 


Cotter's 


Saturday Night 




er and moral, i 


is solemn 












f grand 
s ry of h p 


l£k 


suoli 


iity, which mo 
d. The nobl 




rrespr.ri 






st of the poem 












breathed 








if the Messiah 


of Pope t 




ed, whi 


r^r 


ndeed a paslora 
tied that Burn 


did not e 


iplov h 






ther subjects o 












corns of t 


le Scot 






would have am 


ply supp 


ted. S 


ucb poe 










of plea. 


re H 


ich it bestows 




etply in 


o the he 




nd is calculated 


far beyon 








-ans, for jrmng 








and the characfers f 


to esqu.s 


tely des 


cribes.f 







DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. . 

Before we conclude, it will be proper 
few observations on the lyric product 



Nor could his wishes stronger grow, 

Than still have mine 

When up this ancient mount t I so, 

With songs of thine. 



among the 
him by adn 
at parts of B 



is happily enforced by exan 



Pursue. O Burns ! thy happy style. 



■When tender joys, with pleasing smile, 


In mouri 


ing weeds, the village tr 


Bless 'd my young ways. 




In silent woe. 


I see my fond companions rise. 


Some mu 


ch-respecled brother's bi 


I join the happy village joys, 

I Lee our green hills touch the skies, 




^c^tts 


And through the woods, 




Along the path 








Its roaring floods.* 


immedia b 


E^Si m j 


No distant Swiss with warmer glow, 






E'er heard his native music flow, 


Pulteney 
t The 


Bart. 


. * The banks of the Elk in Dumfriesshire, 


the count 


g A Scullisii funeral. 



Then in s 



With holy air, 

se the pious choose, 

With all thy cars 



And youth and age with feai 
The symbols of eternal rest ' 



How down ilk lang withdrawing hill, 
Successive crouds the vallevs till, 
While puie religious converse still 



irm seraphic glow, 

ear the holy 'vow, 
'Mid grateful tears; 

nch scenes below, 
'J heir future peers. 



Where neighbours saw, in dusty : 
The light of de 

And when they pass the rockv hon 
Where binwood bushes o'er them 

Where'far aw; 
The kirk-yard trees a! 



Bytl 



■mbled re 



nd the i 



While o'er their 

In the cold winu tneir grey iocks wav 

As low they lay 
Their brother's body 'tnoiigst the lave 



The griefs within, their bosom 

One holy bow devout tbey sha 

Then hom< 

And think o'er all the virtues f 



Sav how by early lessons taught, 
(Truth's pleasing air is wiliii.g caught; 
Congenial to th' untainted thought, 



Is aught on earth so lovely known, 
On Sabbath morn, and far alone, 
His guileless soul ^»^ h ™|_ 

Such prayers must welcome reach the throi 
And bless 'd abode. 

O tell ! with what a heartfelt joy, 
And all his constant, kind employ, 



The parish-school, it 
And lead him on to c 



Nor yet the tc 
Who o'er the 
And begs o' n 



t, and always after the model of the Scottish 
songs, on the general character and moral in- 
ly been offered. We may hazard a few 



such of them as are comic, frequently treat ( 



The bonny lasses as they spin, 
Perhaps wi' Allan's sangs begin. 
How Tay and Tweed smooth flo 
Through flov 
Where Shepherd-lads their swee 



While play 
To bless th, 



nmv their harmless simple ways, 
re's own pure emotions raise; 
still the dear romantic blaze 






binds the harden 'd plains, 

[,.ar h. Hie hoary swains 

16 """Ind ankious'sT!" 3 ' 
And Burns ' S Lay! 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 












J551 



e spot destined ic 



"On Ettrick banks, o 
[ metmTTatfe."^ 






of Horace, a( piclura poecii, is faithfully ob- 
served by these rustic bards, who are guided by 

which influenced the father of epic poetry, on 

was perhaps founded. By this means the 



The< 



: style , 



great. y w lue interest they excite, also shows 
that they have originated among a people ill 
the earlier *lages of society. Where this form 

after the ancient model, f 



■ picture drawn by the pencil of 



individual spot of this b 



The form of dialogue 



e,tinj. This sometime produces a ve 
ing effrct, of which an instance may I 
from the ballad of Edom o' Gordon, a 



BURN &— LIFE. 



The Scottish soug are of very unequal poet- 
ical merit, and this lnequa] 



. The alliance of the words nf the Scot- 
es given to the former a popularity, which 






waves on the Cowden Kiiowes. 

The first attempts of Burns in song-writing 
were not very successful. His, habitual inat- 
tention to the exactness if rhymes, and to the 

' - 
formed, were faults likely to appear jo more 

h. V auy a othe'r; and we'niay also remark, that 
the = tivi,ath ,f hi, imaj uaiion, and the exu- 
berance of his sensibility, were with difficulty 
restrained within the limits of gentlei,;,,, deli- 
cacy, and tenderness, which seem to be assigned 
to the love songs of his nation. Eurns was 
letter adapted by nature for following iu such 

silion apparently of the sixteenth century. The 
tier, ot The ballad is shortly this :— The Ca-tle 
of Rhouee, in the absence of it, lord, is attack- 



To blaw the reek frae thee." 

The circumstantiality of the Scottish lo' 

so generally in them, probably arises fri 
■"-.' • - ... '.!. -.-•■ ■.-, ., .1 

the aucient ballads. In the beautiful modi 
song of Mary of Castle-Cury, the drama 
form has a very happy effect. The same .. 



may be compared, in polished de- 

the h.ie,t son-s iii our language, 
j eloquence of sensibility they sur- 



titicns of the mind. Cis- 






be found iu 
ainous region. 



the numher of 



from thi, cause, as well as from the mildness 
of the temper ,ture, the attraction of the season 

I . beaut ill, I Ihe eleaUr 

the sun's path ou the ecliptic, prolongs the 
grateiul season of twilight to the midnight 
hours, and the shades of the evening seem to 

poets of Scotland, as m"ay be expected, a.-so- 

with the most beautiful of their sceuery, iu 

those hours of the evening when the beauties of 






}" e s "audT'^ a fev 
)f the island, whii 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



•rcely .<» sin s'<j s °" 
■St ; and though 



e fur 



_ j met with in the older 
Scottish songs, they are iu the highest degree 
appropriate and interesting. Instances in proof 
of tills might be quoted from the Lea Rig, 
Highland Mary, the Soldier's Return, Logan 
Water, from that beautiful pastoral, BoMHte 
Jean, and a great number of others. Oeca- 
Biu:,all-, the force of his genius carries him be- 
yond thf 



,1 objects intrc 
A suolim.tj. 



re of 



nature, we must have recourse to the poetry of 
ancient Greece, or of modern Gaul. 

Rums has made an important addition to the 
songs of Scotland. In his compositions, the 
poetry equals and sometimes surpasses the 
mus.c. He has enlarged the poel.cal scenery 
of his country. Many of her rivers and moun- 
tain,, formerly unknown to the muse, are now 
consecra.ed by his immortal verse. The Doon, 
the Lugar, the Ayr, the IN'ith, and the Cluden, 

the Tay. be considered as class'ie stream,,' and 
their borders will be trod with new and superior 

The greater part of the songs of Burns were 

Dumfries. Influenced, perhaps, by habits 
formed in early life, he usually composed while 
walking in the open air. When engaged in 
writing these songs, his favourite walks were 
on the banks of the Nilh, or of the Cluden, 



described UDder various aspects, as it appeirs 
during the softness and serenity of evening, and 
during the stillness and solemnity of the moon- 
light night. 

■'- — species of poetry, the productions 
• — ;pted, so much calculated 



'■:',.' ',' : 
people, at 



:e the i 



e populi 



of infancy, make a 
understanding. The 



a must important addition to the popular ! 



speedily be forgotten. 



r of John Anderson 

tenderness, that 
isitely affecting, 
nces could aff 



as highly 



iakct 
on of 


it 


ader 


l 


of a - 




or descrip- 
aud, where 












though., 




pure 


E 


lgli 




tyle. 


The sing 


.lar faculty 


e poss 


:s.-ed o 




• a-lin; 




















ery ol 




.1:1 




and i 




re, enabled 










ietv of 








lb 






eli'eCI 


His po 




- i,Vi, 


eTf 


;;'; 


't 






st'humour? 








f the mi 


t awful 




ind. 


He 








that rut 








e ll 


S' 






and the use 


fine h 


al' 


Sole 




the bo 


torn of ui 


to add two 


ints" 


S. 


I 


J," 




u.ade by 


the inhabi. 


OX.,,1 


te 


n ll 




»r,e: 


to the p 


£■!*£ 



ide it difficu 

in the Scottish dialect, without exciting in 
them some feeli »Wch in Eng. 

understands the meaning of the Scottish words, 

perhaps pleased with the ruslic dialect,' as ha 
may be with the Doric Greek of Theocritus. 

But a Scotch. nan inhabiting his own coun- 
try, if a man of education, and more especially 

words from his writings, aud has atteuu-ted to 



BURNS. 

banish them from Ms speech ; and being 

daily, does not easily admit of their use in 

Eruamental. ind, is, how- 

ever, accidental, not natural. It is of the 

species of disgust which we feel a; 

female of high birth in the dress of a rustic; 

little habit will enable us°to overcome. *A 

her empire on those affections over which 

association arises. The dress of the beautiful 

a new fashion for the young and the gay. And 

shall view her picture in the gallery that con- 
tains the portraits of the beauties of successive 
centuries, each in the dress of her respective 
day, her drapery will not devia'e, more than 
that of her rivals, from the standard of his 

Burns wrote professedly for the peasantry of 

universally 'relished. To a numerous dass of 

it may also be considered as "attractive in a 
different point of view. Estranged from their 
native soil, and spread over foreign. lands, the 
:s with the senti- 



1 the 



einploved,to recall to their miods the i:.t rating 
scenes of infancy and youth to awaken many 

and fifty thousand of their expatriated country- 



c ncei-.e, th..t this could have been done with 

their idiom. There are some, indeed, who 
will think the subject too low for poetry, per- 
sons of this sickly taste will hud the ir delica- 
cies consulted in many a polite and learned 
author; let them not seek for gratification in 
the rough and vigorous iin-.s, in the unl.ndled 

this barf of nature. 



Tode 



Ma 






ly per, 



The father of 



sistence by daily 1 


abour. 


hich have attracte 












nong the followers 


of the 






as 'well as energy 


; and 


of the h gher 01 


ier of 


















rity admits, perha 


. s, of 



Of Homer him.eif, it may be said 

The foice'oY Burn's lay 11 the pow 
heart; and these will be found to 



reconciled. The dialect in question excels, as 


ser.s.tilitv ha 


an uncommon ra>.ge. "He was 




of'the^w"' 


species of emotion. He is one 
ets that can be mentioned, who 




have at once e 


* These observations are excited by some 












description alluded to. This calculation of 














Scottish peas 


nt with the works of th?se giants 


bably below the truth. It is, iu some degree, 




might appear presumptuous ; 






asserted that he has displayed 


of the sexes in Scotland, as it appears from the 


thefir.tr/Uc 


cuks. How near he might have 


invaluable Statistics of Sir John Sinclair 






For Scotchmen of this description more parti- 










to calculate. But while we run 




over the me 


ancholy story of his life, it is 










of his'fortune 




interest, on the banks of the Ganges or of the 


of his mind. 




Mississippi, as on those of the'Tay or the 




been reared the fairest and the 


Tweoli 


most durable 


rf the monuments of genius. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



It is impossible to dismiss this Volume* of the 

The experiment we are making has not often 
been tried ; perhaps on no occasion has so large 

the press. 



ley have seemed iu themselves worthy of a 
isert them, though they may not always eor- 



Of the following letters of E 



letters for the amusemen 



Riddle of Gleuriddle, Esq. Among these was 
the account of his life, addressed to Dr Moore, 
' printed in the first volume. + In copying 



various passages were found unfit for the pi 

from diitereut considerations. 1( will alto be respondents before him) he see 



; dious- 11, 



live of the letters thus selected by 

ness of such repetitions, it has been found ne- ; rest'being thought of inferior merit, or ot'her- 

cecsary to mutilate many of the individual j wise unlit for the public eye. 

delicacy — the unbridled eilus.uns of panegyric In printing this volume, the Editor has found 

and regard. But though many of the leltere j some corrections of grammar necessary; but 

sons to whom they were addle,,*.', others are supposed to oceur 111 the careless effusions, even 

printed from first draughts, or sketches, found of literary characters, who have not been in the 

Bum.,, jet it appear, tha. in some instances the Poet, even where his phraseology may seem 



baps in more studied language, i with gi 
of his manuscripts, some of the | indeed b 

tie orispri.ig of' his mind, wh, 



ibit the progress of his style, a°s well as the 
or, of his mind. In the Fourth Edition, 






+ Occupying from page 1 to page 17 of this 



ON 

THE DEATH OF BURNS. 

BY MR ROSCOE. 



The Editor, therefore, presents one poem only on this melancholy subject ; a poem which has 
not before appeared in print. It is from the pen of one who has sympathized deeply in the 
fate of Burns, and will not be found unworthy of its author-the Biographer of Lorenzo da 
Medici. Of a person so well known, it is wholly unnecessary for the Editor to speak ; and. 



Rear high thy bleak majestic hills, 
Thy shelter 'd valleys proudly spread, 

And, Scotia, pour thy thousand rills, 
And wave thy n.aths with blossoms red 

Thy airy heights, thy woodland reign, 



in thy towering pin, 
"ir thy streams ma 



iv grow, 



What though thy vigorous ofTspi 
Though beauty in thy daughters 



Since he no more the s 



; with early hardships tried ; 
to mark the gloomy void, 
him feel his miserv, 



Thepow-rsof fane 
And soothed his lengt 

-Ah! days of b 



When vigorous health from 



sprightly song, 
swiftly fled, 



,d Mini 



eep his 



light ft 



DIAMOND CABINET LIE 



New spefls of mightier power prepa 

Bid brighter phantoms round him 
let Flattery spread her viewless sna 

And Fame attract bis vagrant g'a 
Let sprightly Pleasure too advance, 

Unveii'd her evee, uncla«p'd her 
Till, lo--t in love's delirious trance, 

He scorns the joys hia youth has 1 

Let Friendship pour her brightest bl 
And Mirth concentre all her rays, ' 



, w 


h wizard light, 


B 


ing gulf below, 
3n his sight 


lh a 


cheerless shed, 






f'h! 


early joys ; 



And lead his steps th 

Where elegance w 

Or Science bids her : 



That waits the sons of po'.ish'd life. 
Theo, whil«! his throbbing veins beat 



And shroud the sc 



t shades of night. 



Hear high thy blea 

Thy sheltered valley 

And, Scotia, pour tby 



Thy airy height, thy woo 



GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE 



ROBERT BURNS. 



LETTERS, &c 



No. I. 
TO A FEMALE FRIEND. 

UT THK YEAR 1780. 



I Verily bel'eve, my dear E.. that the pun 
*orld as the pure genuine principles of virtu. 



as made me often afraid lest you should U 






I have often thought, that if a well-grounded 


courtship than I am, I often think it i 






the^hM^trf mT'i wirU°my health every 




thin totally are. 




It is natural for a young fellow to 




acquaintance of the females, and custot 


every dirty spark of malice and envy, winch 


him to keep them company when 


ere m ' in° ^ m ' f univ'er al blueTOlei.-^ 


serves; some one ot them .s more agre 




him than the re.-t ; there is someth 






happy, and sympathize with [lie miseries of tin- 


how, in her company. This I take to 


unfortunate. 1 assure you, my dear, I often 




look up to the divine Disposer of events, with 




an eye of gratitude for the blessing; which I 






with such a lover. You cannot refuse 


you. I sincerely w.-Il that he may bless my 


is sincere, and yet though you use him 


endeavour, t ,„ 






farthest ii'i'a year oAwo, the same un 




able fancy may make him. as distracte 


Icr.ug the unkindly circumstances of my for- 


of another, whilst you ore quite forgot 






my. view, worth', of a ma.i, and 1 will ail, 


pleasure of seeing you, you may bid r 



No. II. 
TO THE SAME. 



se affection 






aw kindly. I disdain their dirty 

I would be heartily out of 1 

nyself, if I thought I were car 



.h.n 1 imYe profe.-.sed fo.- \ at i- perhaps one of 
hose transient dashes I have been u ,. 
>ut I hope my dear E. you will do me the 
ustice to believe me, when I assure you, that 

:rei principles of virtue"'ond honour, andV, 

' n- , ; ueiie., so long as you continue possessed 



appy. People" may talk f .lames s 



DIAMOND CAE_.\'ET LIBRARY, 



ed feelings of the 



. }ou 



me, 1 will regard uiy E. with Ihe tenderest 
aiiecl.on, a,.. [ r 

proved Ca e mLh higher "degree^ which Lr'lt 



think ol purchasing >onr La., J by a,,) arts uu- 
| worth} ot a uiaii, and 1 v.. 11 acid of a Oiristiau. 

either put an end lo m'y hope," by 
■d (thoug.l perhaps but ven imperfect:} ) by 



know, we 


re I to sc 


e^ in such 


a style to 


rE., thee 


,dL-J, ' 


ge of the he 
hip I shall e 


n ! s , r my 



I have often thought it a peculiarly unlucky 



only the safest, hut actually by far 
way of proceeding, a lover is n< 



paeity to talk of lc 
fidelity, which ar 



'Ihere is such a u 
and distrustful an; 



only 






No. IV. 
TO THE SAME. 






ly yet col.ect my 



anguage of refuel, still it w as peren.p- 
"jou were sorry you could not make 
eturn, hut you wish ine " what, without 



Your U ncoi.™o« personal advantages, and 









EUENS 

it on jou, and as I expect to rernov 



No. V. 

TO IVIR JOHN MURDOCH, 

SCHOOLMASTEE, 



D£iR sin, LoMee, lbth January, ] 
As I have an opportunity of sending ; 



t!ie many obligations I lie under to your kind- 
nets and friendship. 

I do not doubl, Sir, but jou will wish to 
know what has been ihe result of all the pains 



and I wish 1 could gratify your 



has hgnred pretty weli 



much ur.,f, me: 1 know that e-.vn' then nn 

head k 'w "d^^ocure' 1 'V anCt '-h ed ^ * ^l? 
eyru'lbeu- 1 would learn to be happy. How- 
ever, I am under no apprehensions a'tout that ; 



* The last shift allu 



LETTLKS. 8 3 

pirts in my composition is a kind of pride of 
stomach, and I scorn lo fear the face of any 

■he U idea n oV ■ e 1 ' ' "', a a'duu 



kaid, st.cn as i/ict,!!..,,-, pan.ct.laliy his Etc 
S ies; Thornton; Man of Fcttmg, a book 1 
prize next to the B.Lle ; Aian of Ihe World ; 
Zterne, especially his tolum'u Journey; 
Xaq.hcr.-.K't Ottian, 4c. Ihese are the 












No. VI 

[The following is taken from the ISIS, pro! 
presented ty our Bard lo Mr Biddel.] 

e C d^nTvS ?i ofnr"rr e eartTn F which 1 'h' 



every creature, rational and irrational. As he 

aini bred at aVloughWu his pertormancTmu's't 
bestrongiy ttnctnred with his unpolished rustic 



DIAMOND CADINET JLlBilAKY. 



e which appear io print. " — Sliensioi 



"As tow'rd her cot he jogg'd along. 



r had the least 
jhfnrtfmi'and 



pher, Mr S.nilli, in his excellent TA ory of 
Moral Scnlimcnts, that remote is the 






glorious effort of se 



rg. gnawing conscousness of gu 
•rh.ips, where we ve involved ol 
the innocent, who fondly love 

b a man so firm, who, whil 



Can linnly force his jarring thoughts to peace J 
O, happy ! happy > enviable man I 
O glorious magnanimity of soul ! 



life, that every man, even 

loihing e!»e ihan a happy 
— n inclining him to 



cause he was out of (he line of such tei'npta- 



o ruin. Thou, foflies, nay, 



of the world, ff they 



/Inch raises the mind to a serious sublimi v. 
ivourable to every thing great and noble, 
'here is scarcely any earthly object gives me 



raving over the plain. It is my best seaso, 

of enthusiasm to Him, who, in the poinpou 
lKiigungeof the Hebrew bard, •• walks on ih. 



BURNS LETTE! 



The wintry west extends his blast, &c. 






iill, in distinguish, ng fopp 
™ real passion and nature, 
ting song will stand the le 



i pride of his heart, he i 
,r, indolent devil he has le 



bana: and it has often given n, 
bar'dV wLo ver' '^blb* u^d 






Behind yon hills, &-c. 



I think the whole species of young men 
may be naturally enough divided into I— 

the merry ; though, by the bye these terms 
not with propriety enough express my ide 
'Hie grave 1 shall cast into the usual divisi 
of those who are goaded on by the love of 

make a ligure in the world, 'fhe merry are, 

toTav'e a 3 uy"s'euled e ru°e of°aclion~; "hut vwth. 
out much deliberation, follow the strong iin- 

happy sweetness of natural temper, and a 
cheerful vacancy of thought, steals through life 
—generally, indeed, in poverty and obscurity ; 

of alf theToTerfn'gs ofgen "* 






man he adored. Like vou, all his consolatiou 
was h.s, muse ; she taught him in rustic mea- 
sures to complain. Happy could he have done 
it with your strength of imagination and flow 
Df verse! May the turf he lightly on your 
tones ! and may you now enjoy that solace and 
rest which this world seldom ghes to the 



No. VIL 

TO MR AIKEN. 



h all ti 



yoffe 



As the grand end of human life is to culti- 
vate an intercourse with that Being to whom 
we owe life, with every enjoyment that can 
render life delightful ; and to maintain an in. 

that so, by forming piety and virtue into habit, 
we may be tit members tor that sec- 
ond straining after the world's riches 'and hon- 

Heav'en as well (which, by the bje,-is 
consideration), who steals through the vale of 



ring all about bim, gain's some of life's littli 



rd of being paid out of ibejiist and rea- 
, which he declines. By his account, the 
paper of a thousand copies would cost about 
t«enly-seven pounds, ana the printing about 
Jifteen or sixteen : he oders to agree to this 



There is scarcely any thing hurts me so 

tion, as not having it in my power to show my 
gratitude to Mr Ballantyne, by publishing my 



diam< :cn cabinet library. 



?vi"h%oL ri w a a»der"r e stab 


s'rfrltsi £hich 


of society or th/vagaries 
in the hour of social mirt 


d away by the calls 
of the muse. E.en 


madness of an intoxicated 
hands of the executioner 


criminal under the 
i to all these reasons 


father. This, in the pre 
scale against it. 


sent mood I am in, 
at can be laid in the 


You may perhaps thin 


^SiSHsH! 



to my very soul : though sceptical in some 
points, ot our current belief, vet, I think, I 
have every evidence for the reality of a life he- 



me with immortality ! I have frequently v» 
dered from that order and regularity necess 
for the perfection of thy works, yet thou 1 



netbin?of t 



/. r-r!.-;i- i 



Eln^iwe^in [hat 

of youTfrfenX efforts. ' What Thave vvriite 

in the preceding pages is the settled tenor , 

--- : -h your kin 



. To tell the truth, I have little reason for 
this last complaint, as the world, in general, 
has been kind to me, fully up to mv deserts. 
I was, for some time past, fi=t getting into ihe 
pining distrustful snarl of the misanthrope. J 
»aw myself alone, unfit for the struggle of life, 
shrinking at every rising cloud in the chance- 



directed atmosphere of fortune, whi>, all de- 
fenceless, I looked about in vain for a cover. 
It never occurred to me. at least never with the 



TO MRS DU1YLOP. OF DUIVLOP. 
madam, Aynhi*e, 1785. 



i comphments you are pleased to pay 
: abilities. I am fully persuaded that 
lot any class of mankind so feelingly 






r in life gives them 
ra been ihoroughly 



rate your illustrious ancestor, the Sartour of 
<s Country. 

Great, patriot hero ! ill requited chief" ! 

li'ch I peTused with pleasure, "was The Luc 
' Haimital . the next was The History of sir 
rVlitun Wallace; for several of my' earlier 
? ars I had few other authors ; and" mnnv a 
'litary hour have I stole out, after the labori- 
ts vocations of the day, to shed a tear over 

pat of Wallace's story 



* This letter Tvas evidently written untVr 
eparation from Mrs Burns. 



L-UK-VS. — LETTERS. 



'• Syne to the Leglen wood, wh 
ro mate a silent and a rafe retre 

I chose a fine summer Sunday 
vood, w.th as much'devout enth 



No. IX. 
TO MRS STEWART OF STAIR. 
MADAM, 1786. 

appearance, except to a friend or two at mo 
Perhap, some of them may be no great ent 
tainment to you: but of 'that I am far from 



No. X. 
DR BLACKLOCX 



THE REVEREND MR G. LOWRIE. 



f sharing; one of the 



=Sr£ 


and beneficence ex 
rmidable disadvan 
with which you 


SSES! 


is serious poems, 
1 those of a more f 



i I think I shall ii 



: u ot *p:nt,, it i- at pre-eiil out of my 
■,;,,v p i; .li>!i -h-it aL-r-.-able intention. 
Stewart, Professor of Morals in this 
iity, had formerly read me three of the 



It h ., been lold me by a gentlemai 






ing pride of heart, I know 



adulation is by no means the road to v< 
opinion. 

with grateful ple'a.,ure remember -tin 



friends, might give it a more u. 
ban any thing of the kind 
,hed within my memory. ( 



im-diatily. 
1 cir.-ula- 



FROM SIR JOHN YWIITEFORD. 
HB, Edinburgh, 4'A December, 1 7SS. 



eud as sweetly as did Mrs Stewart of 



+ The song inclosed is that given in the Life 
of our Poet, beginning, 



$ The reader will perceive that this is the 



ic fate of a new edi- 






DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



am persuaded 



JOHN WHITEFORD. 



No. XII. 
FROM 






i.njrr ..f s.fl'.-r^.i 'ivs-v^s ar.d a full 
purse? Remembe! -Solomon "s ad^ ice. which 
he spoke from experience, "stronger is he 
that conquers," 4sc. Keep fast hold of your 

thai of Cjprus. ' I hope you have a'lso Minerva 
a modest diffidence and invincible temperance 
mind, and eiatt'akd refine the imagination 



■Jpfeio'n 


you 


will not 


imagine I 


= ^a' 


fror 






•il report. 




>OU 




anTa'str 


and 


des'°e '^ 


see* vou d sh 


ood o 


m!on 




nshi 




have done 


::'i:.-" 




andintb 












This 






urn ft 






jmpo 










complim 










'ui:Ll 


prosacni 


r« 











No. xin. 

TO MR CHALMERS. 

Edinburgh, 27th Dec 17SG. 

ifess I have sioned the sin for which 
is hardly any forgiveness— in»mtitnde to 
ishp—innot writing you sooner; but of 

taining letter; and by all the plodding, 
d powers, that in nodding conceited ma- 
been ever since I came to Edinburgh, as unfit 
mentary on the Revelations. 



and spun since I passed Gienbuck. One blank 

in the address to Edinburgh, «' Fair B ,' 

is the heavenly Miss Burnet, daughter to Lord 
Monboddo, at whose house I have had the 



I, to call 

them. My airectio 

;, merchant, Bridgt 



Mr Ballentiue ai 
r some of them, i 
Care of A 



No. XIV. 
TO THE EARL OF EGLINTON. 

My LORD, .Edinburgh, January, 17S7. 

^he'^alted'tdeas'of^ 



a of t 



tieh. I b 



cely any thing 
a'nd, as a poet, I 



of a Scotsman. 
o which I am so 
welfare of 



,:,.:,■ ti 



,.elt, I lo 



tbough.til 

side for a ray of light. It is easy, then, to 

show ;5rS^:nF«pe 

erves my very grateful ackuowledg- 
it your patronage is a bounty pecu- 

'hispered S "me To' do™?!. From the emot bin 

' my inmost soul I do it. Selfish ingratitude, 



BURNS. 

:, I shall ever have so much Lon- 



TO MRS DUNLCP. 

MADAM, Edinburgh, January 15, 1787. 
Yours of the 9th current, which I urn this 

me foi ungrateful neglect. I will tell you the 
real truth, for I am miserably awkward at a 
lib : I wished to have written to Dr Moore 
before 1 wrote to you ; but though, every day 



U try, 

His kind' interposition in my behalf I have al- 
ready experienced, as a gentleman wailed on 
me the other day, on the part of Lord Eglnr- 
ton, with ten guineas by way of subscription 
for two copies of my next edition. 

The word you object to in the mention I 
have made of my glorious countryman and 
yoar immortal ancestor, is indeed borrowed 
from Thomson ; but it does not strike me as 

judgment on your rinding fault with it, and ap- 

here, who honTur me with* their or 
tures, and they all allow it to be proper. The 
song >ou ask I cannot recollect, and 1 have not 
a copy of it. I have not composed any thing 
on the great Wa'.ace, except wnat jouhaie 
seen in print, and the inclosed, which I will 
print in this edition.* You will see I have 
mentioned some others of the name. When I 

ed a description of Kyle, of "which the'addi- 

justice to "the merits of the SoriW of his 

attempt.' 

You are afraid I shall grow intoxicated with 
my prosperity as a poet. Alas ! madam, I 
know myself and the world too well. I do not 



ged forth to the full glare of learned and polite 
observation, with all my imperfections of awk- 



tanzas in the Visum, beginning thi 
i, "By stately tower or palace fair, 
iding with the first duaa. 



ny head— I assure you, madam, I do not dis- 

equences. The novelty of a poet in my ob- 
eure situation, without any of those advan- 
ages which are reckoned necessary for that 

aiscd a partial tide of public notice, which has 



d with the patronage of the descendant of the 
nimortal Wallace ? 



No. XYL 
TO DR MOORE. 

Mrs Bunlop has been so kind as t 



only know what pleasure it gives to be noticed 

rence; only 1 am sorrj thej mostly came too 
late; a peccant passage or two, that I would 

The hope to be admired "for ages is, in by 
far the greater part of those even who are au- 
thors of repute, an unsubstantial dream. For 
my part, my brsl ambition was, and still my 
mpeers, the 



ent phasis from what is common, which may 
assist originality of thought. Still I know- 
very well the novelty of my character has by 

notice 1 have lately had ; and in a language 
where Pope and Churchill have raised thr 
laueh, and Sheustone and Gray drawn the tea; 
— vvhere Thomson and Bealtie have painted 
the landscape, and Lyttleton and Collins de- 
scribed the heart, I am not vain enough to hope 
for distinguished poetic fame. 

No. xvir. 

FROM DR MOORE. 
SIR, Cliford Street, January 23, 1787. 



IHAV.JNJ) (JAUINCT LI3KAUY. 
.plain of n,y friend 






: : on of sij admiral 

from his ivnn.s, w.lil i \ ong 



No. XVIII. 
TO DR .MOORE. 
Edinburgh, 15/A February, 1787. 



"A. e .:!. ! ,'.. 



been for many; 



Dr Blair, who, i am informed 
bered to him : nobody can hi " 



n I have, which, 
>rth of his character. 






Your obedient hum' 



While soon the garden's flaunti 



w from heaven, shall new 



Indignant, and in light unborrowed blazed. 
Scotia ! from rude affliction shield thy bard. 



miug neglect in delaying 90 
ilmtice of " . 1 

ployment than' folfov! !,",;- ,1:, plo»"h,°nor could 



self- co.ice i. That I biveV.m,. merit 1 do not 
deny; but £ set- will, li-en^.u « ringings of 



thought of paying her in kind, bi 

dency. 1 had never before heard oC 1 
the other day I got her poems, v. h 

several reason,, some belonging to ti. 
and others the oi^-.rine of t),e i.eart <r 
great deal of pleasure. I have little 
.ions- to critic lore: there are, I ihii 

fettered wild flight of native genius 



No. XIX. 
FROM DR MOORE. 
Clifford Street, 2Sth February, 1787 






gusling vanity. For you to deny the merit 
edition, which,' I beg you will accept as a 



to .be care of Mr Creech; and, along mi 
these foor vclnmes for yourself, I have ah 
sent my Medical SbfcAes, in one volume, f, 
n,v friend -Mrs Dunlop of liur.U-p : this ic 
| will he so obliging as to transmit, or, if yc 
ce topass soon by Dunlop, to give to lie 
ira happy to hear that jour iul.-.i.piion 



No. XX. 

TO THE EARL OF GLErv'CAIRN. 

MS LORD, Edinburgh, )7S7. 

I wanted to purchase a profile of jour iordship, 

inelosed''sta'nzas I 'intended'' to hiv e written 
below a picture cr profile of jour lordship, 

ed to have something like a n-aterial object for 
my gratitude ; I wanted to have it in my power 
to say to a friend, 'Ibere is my noble patron, 
my generous benefactor. Allow me, m; 1 

sh.p bj the hottest tlrue of gtatituu'e, by the 
lii,'.*_ I owe 



would crucify my feelings- Your i tpn tied 
character in life, and manner of supporting 

Almost every poet has celebrated his patrons, 

particularly when they were names dear to 
fame, and illustrious in (heir country; allow 

* It does not appear that the earl granted 
this request, nor have the verses alluded to been 
fbnnd among the rjlSS. 



■LETTERS. 

me, then, nry lord, if yen thin! 



hip's highly indebted. 



No. XXL 
TO THE EARL OF EUCIIAX. 



Your lordship touches the darling chord of 
my heart, when you advise me to fire my muse 
at frcuish .lory and Scotch scenes. 1 wish 

;t mf.ge thr. iti.il tt.j nativeco t.'ry ;" losi'l ;;i d 

t ■ r ' v 1 r hen borne 

through broken ranks to victory and tame; and. 



ong. But, my 1 



ong-visaged 

nces these emj 
veil with pruden. 



mjV.tb; aJdVatitu'db to tho'e 



much with their patronage and appro 
mil. while stealing through 1117 1 
ades, ever distend my bosom, and at 
aw forth the swelling tear. 



Ext. Property inf.veur cf Mr Rotert Burns, 
Scsirior.-hmiK, within the Kirk vf Co- 



ot' which letter the tenor follows: 
honourable Bailies of Canongate, 

V° h .V°\ d 



Edinburgh. Gent 



s of Robert rergusson, the 






tubscribUur,) " ROBERT BURNS. " 

Thereafter the said managers, in considei 
lion of the laudable and disinterested motion 
Mr Burns, and the propriety of his reque 
did, and hereby do, unanimously grant pov, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

t the steps of the ] •' By special grant of the Managers to Rub 



You mav think, and too justly, that I a 
sellish ungrateful fellow, having receive! 
many repeated instances of kindness from ; 



your good heart would think j 
avenged. By the bye, there . 
whole frame of man which 
unaccountable as that thing c 



the infant frosts of an autumnal morning 10 the 
unclouded fervour of the rising sun : and lie 

sequences of folly, in the very vortex of oui 
horrors, up starts conscience, and harrows us 

with the feelings of the d 

I have inclosed you. by way of expiation, 
some verse and prose, that, if they merit a 

literally as Mr Sprott sent it rue. 

The Inscription on the Stone is as follows 1 
HERE LIES ROBERT FERGUSSON, 

MET, 

5th. i; 
ber, 17 

No sculptured marble here, nor pompous lay, 

This s LVle'stone n direcls U pale Sco.ia's' way 

On the other tide oj the Stone is di/oBowi i 



No. XXIV. 

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM 

eth March, 1787. 
1 am truly happy to know you ha-o found a 

bimp&t honour.' HeTs Truly agcid "man" 

shall know/in this world.' Bui I must not 
speak all I think of him, lea I should be 
thought partial. 

So you have obtained liberty from the ma- 

been, as Shikspeare says, •• in the oldeu-time : " 

"The poet's fate, is here in emblem shown, 
He ask'd for bread, and he received a stone. - 

It is, I believe, upon poor Butler's tomb 
that this is written. But how many brothers 
of Parnassus, as well cs poor Hutler and poor 
Fergusson, have asked for bread, and been 
served with the same sauce! 

The magistrates gave you liberty, did they ? 



it iibe 



- ',-'. 


, ra 


of ei 


j'hteen pence for a c 


py of 






But 






ing! M 




_a 


tt'this "ime^bsolutely 
his aid with all the e 
nd, over and above. 


J r« 


'hTvtl 


\e~i 


""elch 


worth, at least one-l 
aoge, but which, I b 


Ird of 


lb 7eZ 


aft 


kTl 


very ungratefully exp 


are of 


seeing 




i Edii 




y will 


be for e 






ays, I wish vou or 






ake 




ug, well-air'ed bedro 


m for 






- 




5; ein? 








ng cup of tea. But 


bv o,l 










Scully 






t all, 










ek bef 


ore-hand. There is 


great 








erning your great in 




of'dis't 3 


E 


chess 

n. I 


am really told that • 


ladei 




"fly bj th 


usandseach night;" 


-r.r. ',f 




d o 




uppose there would 


l.c be 




















"sscfn 


rid, 


f DOS 


ible, the fate of poo 
.... Qmsre 


r Fer- 


Spri™ 


mesi, 




a L -oc,J 








pise it 




nth 




ry ; but probably sou 


V'--"- 


losoph 


r ii 


'Earn 


burgh has taught you 














Pray 




you | 






iag?- 


Are 


>»»J 


t seized 





" With itch of picture in the front. 
With bays of wicked rhyme upon'l!" 



BURKS.— LETTERS. 



Nj. XXV. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 



the stubborn pride of my oir 
distinguished, patronized, 

Your friendly au-.ices, I « 



I follow implicitly. 

You kindly interest yourself in my fi 
views and prospects ; there 1 can give y< 
light ; it is all 

«• Dark as was chaos, ere the infant sun 

Was roll'd together, or had tried his be 
, Athwart the gloom profound. " 

The appellation of a Scottish bard is by far 



nd to muse 


by the stately t 


owers or v 


ene- 




















re all Utopian th 


joghts: I 


lave 




lough with life : 








I have a fond, an 








some other bosc 


m ties pi-r 


laps 


.-.ually tend- 


r. Where the 


ndhhlunl 


only 


uffers by the 


consequences of h 
lence, or folly, h 


may be e; 










"the 


sobler virtue 


s, may half-san 


tify a hee 


dless 


* The abov 


e extract is from 


letter of o 


r.eof 


he ablest of 












oles of Fe 








n happy to 




nserted, if t 


b mis?at d n h in Vebee 




ated. 






" 




ratesofEdin 


burgrfhad anyshT 






■on respectii 




erected for 


Fer 


jusson by ou 








etween Bur 


sand the Kirk S 


ssion of lb 


. 



ing my plough, or building up my shocks, I 
shall cast a leisure glance to that dear, that 



No. XXVI. 

TO THE SAME. 

)AM, Edinburgh, 15/A April, 17S7. 

is an affectation of gratitude which I 

The periods of Johnson and the 



" Rude am I in speech. 
And therefore little can I crace my cause 
In speaking for myself — " 

i I shall not trouble you with any fine speeches 

I 'come abroad in orint for certain ot. 
V'ednesday. Your orders I shall punctually 
lleud to ; only, by the way, I must tell you 
-at I was paid before for Dr Moore's and 
liss \Y. 's copies, through the medium of 



Br Smith* was just gone to London the 
uoruing before I received your letter to him. 



No. xxvir. 

TO DR KOOEE. 
Edinburgh, 2311 April, 17S7. 



DIAMOND CABiSET LIBRARY. 



ClcJrli-K^cc, Jla.^rt larroic, Tu; ai. <}-c. 

hJ.l"neVeV\n._,rt- to\iM ^"m" 1 Lave' toimed 
man, ,ui;m„c m 1...1 inendsnips hef, mlj,,, 

:itle me 10 u's'ottied corr^.oimtiice v ,u:i any 
>f you, « hu are the permanent lights of genius 

My' mo'st respectful compliments to Miss W. 
[1 „ u _,.. 1 c t .1 n e er, 



TO MRS DUNLOP. 

Edinburgh, 30iA ^r?7, 17? 






flatter no created beiug either 

"Tset as little by ., lord 

my'ba^IshV'' i'Vl^'vlna"] 






n-Market, Edinburgh, 3d May 






patronage, and friendbhip you have shown m c , 
I often fell the embarrassment of mj singular | 

ofnfeT'theV d'honoure* 

country^vhose works "whikX "i™" °lau7 ' 
e^7the" n rof H ^/ W ill\Ve?'i^% a uct a a U nd 
mend the heart. However ,he meteor-l,ke 
uovelti ot my appearance iu the world might 



■ mi surpr:=e me ii. my nuarters. 

1 na-.esent you a proui impression of Beu- 

ttarui gratitude 1 am, ic. " J "' 

No. XXX. 
FROM DR XiLAIR. 

ArgyU-Square, Edinburgh, iUi May, 1787. 

thanks. The success you have ma with" I do 
■lot think was beyond your merits ; and if I 

it gives me great pleasure. 1 know no way m 

wh ch l.urary persons, who are advanced in 
years, can u, more service to the worlo, than 

m aruoro.i.g the ehorts ot rising genius, or 
L.r.ngu, ■ lorw unknown mer.t from obscurity. 

by the fragments '/ AncuiU i>os ^Thicl/V 
publ.shed, and afterwards, by my seu.ng on 
toot the undertaking. foi a, ind putlUh- 



:hat you have stood it so well ; and as far as 1 
Have known or heard, thongh in the midst of 
many temptations, without reproach to your 



loyments, «h.ch your situation will render 

mote that esteem, by culi.'vating "your genius, 
and attending to such productions of it as may 
--- your character still higher. At the same 



poet will vcrj much depend. " There is, no 



BURNS LETf ERS. 



of notice and applause which here shoue upon added is equal to your Vision and C-olter's 
you. No man can lie a good poet without Saturday Night. In these are united line ima- 

him=elf to public observation, will occasionally dent that you already pcsess a "" 



:«. He will lect :-f why si 



per seasons come forth with more i 
glected ifhe be not always praised. 

own good sense will, I dare say, ren 



riguage? In >j op 

me larger work than 



d of the English 



upon souie pro 
)lan in your mil 
:e any part of it 



joTther 



jou will not easily find a 
belter hear.ed proprietor to 
Miller. When you retun 



UUGH BLAIR. 

No. XXXL 

FRO.iI DR MOORE. 

Clifford Street, May 23, 17S7- 



I had the pleasure of your 
and soon after he seut w 



:nbed. I must inform you 



U-- Xi-shi. the AUrtss U, EIiu:.,rzh, Grten 

ately following"' the latter' of which '.'"i" a. 
quisite. By the way, I imagine you hare a 



ogy, 10 which there are ever!; 
n all the poeis. and which in 

,tud7ed with more attention, is r 
hat is, the history of Frai 
Britain, from the beginning 
Seventh's reign. I know 






rudeul friends prevailed on you io omit ; par- 
icularly one called Somebody's Confession ; 
"jou will iuiru t me with the aigh: of any of 

he-e, I will pawn my word to give no copies, 






-> CABIXE1 LIBRARY. 

to tell you that it was (at least most part of it), 

deavoured to brush it up as well as Mr 

N 's chat, and the jogging of the chaise, 

would allow. It eases my heart a good deal. 



No. XXXII. 

FROM MR JOHN HUTCHINSON. 

srR, Jamaica, St Ann's, Uth June, 1787. 
I received yours, dated Edinburgh, 2d Janu- 
ary 17S7, wherein you acquaint me you were 
engaged with Mr Douglas of Port Antonio, for 
three years, at thirty pounds sterling a-year; 



had been in the English style, as they allege the 

poems'are in a great measure lost to far the 
greater part of the community. Nevertheless 
there is no doubt you had sufficient reasons for 
your conduct -perhaps the wishes of some of 

I. - in I i,rl i i ; , mdgemry, your patrons, 



re as capable c 


f »r; 


"g 


n the Eng 


the Scottish 








your genius 






from the 


you have air 


' 






for profit and 






yoi:r=elf 


ry. I can by 








.k of coming t 








• you, there is 


no e 




ragemen't f 



JOHN HUTCHINSON. 



No. XXXIII. 



Inverness, 5iA September, 



a help me God iu my 
ever forget. 
'ihe little "angel bam'.! " 



prayed for them very sincerely to-day at the 

Tall of Fyars. I shall never forget the fine 

mil | ^ce I saw at.Blair ; the amiable, the 



raph in her 
le lovely "c 

uely says, ro 



don- Sir W. M— 



No. XXX1Y* 
TO MR GILBERT BURNS. 

Edinburgh, 17 th Sept. 1787* 
safe jester 






; 



ed. 1YJ 
beyond 1 



verness. I went through the heart of the 
Highlands, by Crieff, Taymonth, the famous 
seat of Lord Breadalbaue, down the 'lay, 

among cascades and druidical circles of stones 



1 r 
da 


eached Grant Castle, where 1 spent half a 
with Sir James Grant and family, 

called by the way at Cawdor, the ancient 




rdered : lastly, from Fort George to Invcr- 


Fo 

St 

f 


returned by the coast, througa Nairn, 

ueh'ive, where j'ames Burnes, 'from Mon- 
e, met me by appointment. I spent two 



n New Yorfc. ' William Brand is 



what cared I for fishing towns or fertile ca 
I slept at the famous Brodie of Brodie' 
night, and dined at Gordon Castle nex 
•with the Duke, Duchess, and family, 
thinking to cause my old mare to meet n 
means of JohnRonald.atGlasgow; but you 

My duty, and many 
north, to my mother, : 



its from the 
herly compli- 
trying for a 



No. XXXV. 

i*ROM MR R 

SIK, OcIUeri 

Twas only yesterdi., _ „ 
stoune's answer, that neither the words of 
Dmcn the burn, Davie, nor Dainty D.n-i, , (I 
forgot which you mentioned), were written by 
Colonel G. Crawford. Next time I meet 



■e the 



s yon requested, 






:ing to delight the pub] 
j doubt the circumstai 






d the study of the char 



ABOVE THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE. 
■written in 1775. 

Avito in agello, 



in t'-e hand-writing of Mr R . 

This gentleman, if still alive, 
hoped, excuse the liberty taken by th 
editor, in enriching the correspt 
Burns with his excellent lett.-r, a"-i 



DIAMOND CABIN 



e love in the plot, and a happy 

reward 'of' hospitality, and honest attachment 
to misguided principles. When you nave once 
thought of a plot, and brought the story into 
form, Dr Bla.-kluck, or .Mr H. Mckenzie, 



scenes ; for in these matters one mu,t pay som 
attention to certain rules of the drama. Thes 
you could afterwards fill up at your leisure 



ow, and, under the 



, absorb better thin] 



those bright talents which the Almighty has 
bestowed on you, be henceforth employed to 
the noble purpose of supporting the cause of 

and forcible as jours, may do this in many dif- 



ken,' it is sufficient that all our sect's concur in 
theu- views of morals. You will forgive me for 
these hints. 

Well ! what think you of good Lady C ? It 

linctly. Her house is a' specimen of the man- 
sions of our gentry of the last age, when hospi- 

amidst plain fare and plain furniture. I shall 
be glad to hear from you at times, if it were no 



:T LIBRARY. 

•g tuybest respecl 



f TALE OF OMERON CAMERON. 



Scotland and the Lords of the Isles. Alexander 
Stewart, Earl of Mar (a distinguished charac- 
ter iu the iteenth century), and Donald Stew- 
art, Earl of Caithness, had the command of 
the royal army. They marched into Lochaber, 
with a view of attacking a bodv of M'Donalds, 
' -A by Donald Balloch, and posted upon 



Having 



l of thes 



of a 



urgents got off precipitately tc 



=" r ? :i = 



my. 



ro, ed 



r disperi 



with- 



The Earl of M 

hilly part of the country. In the course of his 
flight he came to tbe" house of a poor man, 
whose name was Oineron Cameron. The 
landlord welcomed his guest with the utmost 

Mool O 

than to The remonstrances of his wife, or the 
future exigencies of his family, he killed the 
cow. The best and tenderest parts were im- 
mediately roasted before the lire, and plenty of 

elude theirmeaL? —The whole ^Sj and their 
guest ate heartily, and the evening was spent 

a- usual, in telling tali, and Mnging songs be- 
side a cheerful fire. Bed time came; Omeron 
brushed the hearth, spread the cow bide upon 



w 


rapped 


.^about 


him, and slept 






ide; whilst Ih 


e family betook 


se 


,-es to re 


st in a corner of 


the same room. 


xt 


mornin 


they bad a pie 


otiful breakfast. 




, s Cep., 


tare his guest 






ew who 


ai he had enter 


ained? "You 




jbablv,' 




. be one of the 




.- 




you are, yon 




»re in di 


tress, and here 


it was my duty 






To what my c 


3ttage afforded, 






•Vour guest, 




replied 


the other, " 


is the Earl of 



themselves unable 
spersed. TheM'- 
:e that Omeron bad 



£ Mool Odbar, i. c. the brown humble c 



URNS.— LETTERS. 

haply too " — darkly dashing, i : 



Nj. XXXVI. 
FROM MR "SV , 

mole House, 13th September, 1 To 



jfthe 5th re 



t ha-. 



know not : but it deprived me of the pleasure 
of writing 10 yon in the manner you proposed, 
as you mist have left Dundee before a letter 
could possibly have got there. 1 hope your 
disappointment on being forced to leave us was 
as great as appeared from your expressions. 
Tlos is the ! e,t c.jn.-oJiLion for the frroati.e^ of 
ours. I still think with vexation uu that ill- 



joyment of a man (1 speak 
possessed of those very dispo 



You know how anxious the Duke 
;t day of you, and to let Mi 
leasureof your conversation, 



k will produce their prop 



of ll 


as* 


Is. Of the high fall, ' 


twist- 


mz 




ol th 


upper 


part 


The char 


acters of" the birds, "m 




mell 




thrush itself. 1 








ety for thei 


happiness and 


::',,- 11 I 


highly 


appi 


ove. The t 


wo stanzas begi 


nning 


'Here 


bee.. 


the Earl's 


tost, and forced 


llim to 


fly the 




try. Hec. 






..I.:.-... 


cH 




ldrummie Castl 
i a confidence 
th his habit an 


r5: 


equired 
hardly 


The 






Lo?l' 






. 




rbed. 


Hebe- 


"as 


e a n n°nounc n ed 


n 'u r p„ U n na h e earh 


hu-t h 


VTas 






n, the Earl st 


n,-'d' J | 


om his 






to have excla.n 




sort of 


poe 

and 


C farea a "rno 


"1 was a nigh 
t plentifully; 


:;; '';; 


house, 
ked of 


clot 


i excellent 


bed. Oineron f 
ellow!" He v 


..■■I , 


eueaeh 
od'uced 



ended of this Highland E 



cannot deny myself the pleasure o£ 



Miss C. and 
licacy, entere 
edness ! It i 



-Hold her up a 
cene of human l 

;eling one gjenerol 



r'To^loU^tfnis* 
the darkness "of this 



terinitage is too much in the common-plac 
tyle. Every body expects the couch, th 



nds, which many of us are i 
n you pay your promised v 



faf u 1K5SL.F i™zSSi S ii ( 

/ sb. U au"inclo's e e "this "to "ou^mu't'ual 'friend Br 
B , who may forward it. 1 shall be 

dressed to the Duke" of Athole, Bunkeld. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY 

Fearl Ihat my cruicl 



No. XXX Vi : 
FROM MR A : 



6th October, 178: 



which place I shall shortly r< 
their feeling to prevent their a; 



Fair fa' yonr pen, my dainty Rob, 

Your leisoiu way o' writing, 
AVhiles, glowring o'er your warks, I s, 

Whiles laugh, whiles downright gre 
Your sonsie tykes may charm a chiel, 

Their words are wond'rous bonny, 
But guid Scotch drink the truth does si 

It is as guid as ony 



tetber't 

Her dying words upbraid ye sair, 

Cry lie on your neglect ; 
Guid faith gin ye had got play fair, 

This deed had stretch 'd your neck, 
That mournfu' dt 



Wha great an" sma's begun'to dau 
And tak him by the gardie : 

It sets na ony lawland chiel, 
Like you to verse or rhyme, 

For few like you can Hey the deil, 

And skclp auld wither 'd Time 

On ony day. 



And sing like English Weischell, 
This prayer I do myself indite, 
From yours still, A M 



No. XXXVI!!, 
FROM MR J. RAMSAY. 



REV W. YOUNG, AT ERSKINE. 



Allow me to 


introduce Mr Burns, who9» 


poems, I dare 




pleasure. Upc 










vhich there is a rich vein of 




He has heard some of our 


Highland lui, 


gs or songs played, which 




so much that he has made 








lopular. As he has thought of 


being in your 




will not think i 


labour lost to indulge the poet 


of nature with 


i sample of those sweet artless 




. only want to be man-ted (it. 


Milton's phrase 


) to congenial words. I w&h 


we could conju 


e up the ghost of Joseph iM'D. 


siasm for those 


J neglected P aIrs! a which do'not 


suit the faslid 




hour. But if 


t be true that Corelli (whom 1 


looked on as t 


be Homer of music) is out of 




oof of their taste ;— this, how- 






show Mr flSrn 


s the manner of singing these 


words.TdTnc 


"despair ofseetftg oa'eof them 


roundVnapkin 


stage, in the original style, 


ry we are likely to meet so sel- 










one has so few opportunities of cultivating 



:' Mr B. goes by , give him a billet 

our friend Mr Stuart, who, I presume, 
he frown of his diocesan. 



3. RAMSAY. 



BURNS LETTERS. 

of Edinburgh. We frequently re 



MR RAMSAY TO DR BLACKLOCK. 
Ochterlyre, 27 th October, 1787. 

1 received yours by Mr Burns, and give you 
many thanks for giving me an op; 



Yon may tell Mr Burns, when you see h ; m, 
that Colonel Edmonstoune told me t'other day, 
that his cousin, Colonel George Crawfurd, was 

his eldest brother Robert (by a former mar- 
riage) had a great turn that way, having writ- 
ten the words of The Bush aboon Traquair, and 
Ttceedside. That the Mary to whom it was 
addressed was Mary Stewart of the Castlemilk 
family, afterwards wife of Mr John Relches. 
The Colonel never saw Robert Crawford, 



nity of life, and the ' 
•usions.- But I have hi 
St compliments to Mrs 
Dear Doctor, 



No. XL. 
FROM MR JOHN MURDOCH. 

London, 2S:A Octoier, 1787. 



ave nothing to allege as an excuse, 
poor, busy, bustling bodies in Lon- 

ik of any person, creature, place, or 
is absent. But this is not altogether 



!, although yot 
6elf, however, with the pleasing thought, 



eithei 

in Scotland or England. If ever yon com 
hither, you will have the satisfaction of seeing 
your poems relished by the Caledonians ir 
London, full as much as they can. be by thost 



I have had some share in cultivating s 

were the author, till a few days ago, w 
ide a visit to Mrs Hill, Dr M'Comb's el 



let me know if you 
ing this huge, ovei 
d afford matter for a 






ectful c 



r' h •,« 



all (] 



May the Father 

les and dispositions that the best of parents 

oinds from your earliest infancy ! May you 

inhappy. 6 I feel myself grown serious^all at 
nee, and affect ' ' 



JOHN MURDOCH. 

No. XLL 

FROM MR 

Gordon Castle, 3\st October, 1787. 
:re not sensible of your fault < 



II _, U 



denly. 
ion cauld kail 
as for Dick 
ion, without 

a bawbee,) I 



Your song I showed without producing the 
author ; and it was judged by the Ducliess to ba 
the production of Dr Beattie. I sent a copy of 
it, by her Grace's desire, to a Mrs M'Pherson 
in Badenoch, who sings Morag and all other 
Gaelic songs in great perfection. I have re- 
corded it likewise, by Lady Charlotte's desire, 
in a book belonging to her ladyship, where it is 
in company with a great many other poems 

no less eminent for their political than for their 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



:ical abilities. When 



hand safely, and, if sent under the Duke' 
cover, it will likewise come free; that is, a 

No. XEII. 
FROM THE REV. JOHN SKINNER. 
SIB, Linsharl, November \iih, 1T87. 



he ways of life is entirely in jot 
gives jou the preference every mai 

versifying taste, Lut it mightily in 






dabbled a good deal 
getting the black jron 
over, till my daughl. 



cloth, whicl 



la'rson in her neighbourhood, to s 
tie a new Highland reel for the Ut 



the undertak 


Dff'you are ! 


an?" of"" 


rhaps, expect 
ui, 1 ,- in>e!.ig» 
the old woms 
. There are 



' Time jour fiddles, time them sweetly, "he. 

If this last answer jour purpose, yon may 

lave it from a Lroiher ot mine, Mr James 
jkini.er, writer in Ediuburgh, who, 1 believe, 
an give the music too. 
There is another humorous thing, I have 

jeddes, and which hit my taste much : 

' There was a wee wifeikie was coming frae 

Had got a little drapikie, which bred her 

It took upo' the wine's heart, and she began 

And, quo^ the 'wee wifeikie, I Irish I binna 

"I with, 4-c. Qrc". 

I have heard of another new composition, by 
i young ploughman of my acquaintance, that 
[ am vastly pleased with, to the tune of The 



eady, I am inc-ined to 



mired. Admiration "will produce regard, and 
regard will leave an impression, especially 
when, example goes along. 

Now binna saying I'm ill bred, 
Else, by my troth, I'll not be glad ; 
For cadgers, ye have heard it said, 

And sic like fry, 
Maun ave be harland in their trade. 

And sae maun I. 

Wishing you from my poet pen, all success. 



JOHN SKINNER. 



No. XLIH. 
FROM MRS] 



ss of Kilravock, Nairnshira 



BURNS. —LETTERS. 






he bottom a name that I shall ever v: 
fateful repeat, "1 gapit wide b-it 
;pak. " I was nearly as much struc 



tend. Mj foreboding ideas had the wide stretch 

their magnitude, and important in'their con- 
sequences, occurred to my fancy. The down- 
fal of the conclave, or the crushing of the cork 
rumps ; a ducal coronet to Lord George G , 



La;in, •'• 11 


auld use 


and wont " 


e Earl' of G 


est C ed r hims 


ifi7m by coa e 


h a goodnes 










rs. He is a 


iroof of the 




of the soul. 




phy ever 






r die. Le 




, H. L. or t 










At best thev 


-digested luti 




, only one of 










a. But my 




the heroic's 


veil of mag 


laniuii'ty, and 


ous throb of 




e, shall look 


rincely eye a 


t "the wa 


of elements, 


of matter, a 


nd the crash of worlds. " 








— 







No. 


XLV. 




TO MRS 


DLTNLOP. 


Ediiihurg 


, 21st Jan 


tary, ITS*. 




ment, I an 




-s the loo, 


. They h 


'"•=. leeu = ix 



looking at your picture, aud you'll seldom I After 
be wrong. We remember Mr N. with as j walk 

Farewell, s^r. I can only contribute the wi- I I nave ah. A that one could 

dowS mite to the esteem and admiration excited ' resign life as an officer resigns a commission : 
by your merits and genius, but this I give - 



ely 


wretch, by selling out. Lately I was a 
penny private ; and, God knows, a miser 
soldier enough ; now I march to the caropa 

"hV ashamed of all this ; for though 
want bravery for the warfare of life, 1 c 
wish, like some other soldiers, to have as n 


able 


lie 


will be, I suppose, about the middle 'of 
week, I leave Edinburgh, and soon after I s 
pay my grateful duty at Dunlop-House. 


,.,11 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



TO THE SAME. 
Edinburgh, 12th Fein- 
Some things in your late letters, h 
RdigiSn, my honoured Madam, ] 

have ever been " more fool than 

No. XLVII. 
TO A LADY. 



e you ended jour let! 
nner with any little w 






of i 


mys 


e!f, 


cannot endure it 


in others. 


You 


"\l 


h°T 


ired friend, who can 
t you are sure of be 


not appear 


I.!.! 






afford to pass by an 




disp 


■>/ ;<- 


urw 


t, because you may 


depend for 



I am highly flattered 'by the news you tell me 
of Coi'.a.* I may say to the fair pointer who 
does me so much honour, as Dr Beanie says to 
Ross the poet, of bis .Muse Scotia, from which. 



• " Ye shake your head, but o" my fegs, 
■ Ye 've set auiJ Scotia on her legs: 
Lang had she lien wi' buffs and flegs, 
Bombazed and dizzie, 
Her fiddle wanted strings and pets, 

VYaes me, poor hizzie. " 

No. XLVIII. 
TO MR ROBERT CLEGHORN. 

Maachline, 31si March, 17S8. 



a track of melancholy joyless muirs, between 
Galloway and Ayrshire, it being Sunday, I 

O'Kean, coming at length in my head', I tried 
these words to it. You will see that the first 
part of the tune must be repeated, r 

I am tolerably pleased with these verses, but 



) Mrs Cieghorn. 

No. XLIX. 
FROM MR ROBERT CLEGHORN. 
Saughton Mills, 27lh April, 1788. 



I w 


as 


avoured with 


your ver 


y kind le 


■ » 


he 


31 


» 


• and c ° nside 


' ,■; ,i 


greatly 


! 


to 


to' 


,y 


VaTOurTte'ai'r 


Capla 


' 


,£' The 
















ba 
















ore; and if 








I 








Jacobi 


e style. 


" 








d be sung aft 




ll field of Cullod 




i° 




be lovely Mlt 


Charles 
Stuart 


Tenduc 




Vn 


Mi 


■y's 




—Why 


may not 






the 


[>■=■■ 


sonofhergre 


it- great- 




t 


1 


H 


re the bard gi 


tea the 


irst stan 


sa of the 


Clu 


valier's Lament. 














■wards tiaish- 



.nd wi 



THE CHEVALIER'S LAMENT, 
small birds rejoice in the green leaves re- 

hawthorn trees blow in the dews of the 
:d cowsiipB bedeck the green 



But what can give pleasure, or what can seem 
While tne lingering moments are numbered by 
No flowers gaily springing, nor birds sweetly 



BURNS.— LETTERS. 



Cieghorn joins me in best compliments. 

I am, in the most comprehensive sense of 
th» „»*>.. jour very sincere friend, 

ROBERT CLEGHORN. 

No. L. 

TO MRS DCJNLOP. 

MADAM, MauMine, 28th April, 1788. 
Your powers of reprehension must be great 
indeed, as I assure you they made my heart 
ache with penitential pangs, even though I was 



will easily gue 



ill. As I got the 



poet, if fortune in her jade t 

him down from the little eu 

she has lately helped him up. 

For this reason, I am at 



ne nights preceding I had slept in 
at, where the force of the wind 
s only mitigated by being sifte 

.sequen 



tsof 



ful pleasu 
enjoyment 

Your 1 



nadam, the troth of the French 

mrfast was"so full of expostula- 
language 

le of the' greatest 
ilife. 

elighted me; Virgil, 
lerit their 



No. LI. 
FROM THE REV. JOHN SKINNER. 
DEAR SIR, Linshart, 28th April, 1788. 

you have favoured me with, and would have 
ily engaged in mat- 



different compleiioi 
ot a lit"- —3- i 
„ou for 

good will, and 

n both thi 
.ony of n 






e of job 



, I highly 
as a small 






^'^J 



ing Nan 



pearing, with no more 
e picked up at an old 



- 



* CHARMING NANCY. 

A SOXGj BS A BUCHAN PLOUGHMAN. 

Tune— «• Humours of Glen. " 

lome sing of sweet Molly, some sing of fair 

Nelly, 
And some call sweet Susie the cause of their 

pain: 
iome love to be jolly, som. 



Ulen 



of the Humours of 



I dared could i 



ills and his right are thes 
s find shelter, but I ca 



But my only fancy, is my pretty Nancy, 

I'll a* no"more treasure, I '11 'seek no more 
pleasure 
Eut thee, my dear Nancy, gin thou wert mj 

Her beauty delights me, her kindnessinvites me, 

Consent, my dear Nancy, and come be my 

Her carriage is comelv.her language is homely, 
Hei dress is quite decent when ta'en in the 

She's blooming in feature, she'B handsome i.i 

My charming dear Nancy, O wert thou my 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



like Phoebus adorning (he fair ruddy morning, 
Her bright eyes are sparkling, her brows are 

my ain ? 
The whole of her face is with maidenly graces, 
Array 'd like the gowans, that grow in yon 

She's well shaped and slender, true hearted 

My charming, sweet Nancy, O wert thou 



To shelter my dear from the cold, snow, 
With songs 'to my deary, I'll keep her 
My charming, sweet Nancy, gin thou ■ 



o my poor Lahnily , 



a translation of Christ's Kukn' the 
Batrachomycmachia _ Homni Lalinit 
, to print if he pieces. Mr C. will 



JOHN SKINNER. 



No. LII. 
TO PROFESSOR DUGALD STEWART. 



Mauchline, 3d May, 



11 make true affection t 
Of loving my Nancy w 
ho' youth will be wasti 

My channi'ifg sweet I 

ut what"if myNancj si 
To favour another be f 
will not compel her, bi 
Begone, thou false Nai 



is ; prosperity and happin, 
visit 10 Hi- Continent, and 

herever I am, allow 



at you with my progress 

re I could 

ttle fame, 



THE OLD HAN'S SONG. 
Tune—" Dumbarton's Drums. " 

>Y THE K.2VEREND J. SKINNEI 



There is nothiin 



Then why should people brag of prosperity, C ? 
* ' aiteued life we see is no rarity, O ; 
Indeed we've been in want, 



To make room for the next generation, ( 
why should old age so much wou 



But we always had the 

And what farther could 

To be pleased wi ' ourselves, ai 






-LETTERS. 

a had the honour tt 



TO -MRS DUNLOP. 



Brvden's Virgil has delighted me. I do not lalked of the insignificant creatures ; nay, not- 

know whether'the critics will agree with me, withstanding their general stupidity and ras- 

but the Georgics are to me by far the best of cahty, did some of the poor deuls the honour 

Virgil. It is indeed a species of writing en- to commend them. But light be the turf upon 



ey, drawn up by the side of a thorough-h 
iter, to start for the plate. I own I am c 
ointed in the JEneid. Faultless correctn 
f please, and does highly please the lette 



No. LIV. 
TO THE SAME. 






ing city; "and 
solid guineas, 

and splendour 



t of conceit 



opulent bestow on thtir trifling fami 
compared with the \ery same thin 
contracted scale of a cottage. Last £ 



No. LT. 
TO THE SAME, 



Ellisland, 13lk June, 17SS 
avell''d, fondly turns to thee' 



ond day, my ho 
smoky spence ; 



rhere is a foggy atmosphere native to my soul 
n the hour of care, consequently the dreary ob- 



erm, i. e. from W'hi 



Tfie'm. 


t placid good- 


nature ar 


and sprightly cheerfulne 
advantage, by a more lha 
figure; these, I think, ir 
a good wife, though she 
a page, but the Scripture 
Testament, uor have da 


s, set of 
If thTc 


-mbl, tha 


a a penny pay 


wedding. 




No. LVI. 




TO MR P. 


HILL, 


SIV DEAR HILL, 





DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

but as I enabled able him to digest tbc 
there is no sport- paragraphs with which 

nd sweetness are very well turned : s 

■fully devoted good thing ; but when thrown at a"man in a 

- — Trtion the irreparable fosTof the egg?' *" 
— r, I would 

;t Lis 



eternally larding 
great men in a 

fresh egg is 



My fac( 
i wish also i< 
spleen, for 
last night 'i 



:nd, D— 
aughs off, but t 



field-day of the 



get one of the dearest of them, Cunningham." 

you ca'n help him to any thing that will make ! 

him a little easier on that score, it will be very 






got the better 



a parcel o 



his wilt, ordered his servants great coats fur fessedly- the Faculty are beyond* my present 
mourning, so, because I have been this week tion. As to their clients, that is another thing ; 
plagued n ith an indigestion, I have sent you | God knows they have much to digest ! 
by the carrier a fine old ewe-milk cheese. | The clergy I pass by ; their profundity of 

Indigestion is the devil: nay, 'tis the devil erudition, and their liberality of sentiment ; 



of hypocrisy, are, so pi 
to place them far, far 



When the hollow-hearted wr< 
the hand, the feeliug spoils 
proud man's wine so offends i 



If ever you 



any of these disagreeable 

niggard of your good things among your friends, 
and some of them are in much need of a slice. 
There in my eye is our friend Smellie, a man 

strength of mind, as well as one of the best 

hearts and keenest wits that I have ever met 



Opor 



■ 



ormng m 



t frie 



only brother, that I ha\ 

by the name of frieuJ, if a luncheon of my 
cheese would help to rid him of some of his 
superabundant modesty, you would do well to 

David* with his Couranl comes, too, across 
my recollection, and I beg you will help him 
largely from the said ewe-inilk cheese, to eu- 

S Printer of the Eiialurgh EvenipjCgurant. 



t my praise 
m of worth, 



>r the benefit of the 
'; late political con- 



No. LVII. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 

Mauchline, 2d Augutt, 1788 



apology f. 
you my di 



of 


;,oi 


riously angry 

the noble 1 
thsdale, and 


y 


1 N 



iles from Dumfrie 



Besides, I am now very busy on my farm, 
building a dwelling-house ; as at present I am 
almost an evangelical man in N'ithsdale, for 1 
have scarce " where to lay my head. " 



BURNS LETTERS. 

The world w( 



meddleth not tl 

friend, and that 



Ycu will ej 
ject farther, 1 



at particular, sacred times 
rs the bosom-chords 

ion for the salt 






■ scribe you a 
ieighbourho 



The; 



Sprung from nigh 
Hope not sunshin, 
Fear not clouds w 



re be prepared, 
; ver thou canst g 
tost duly done, 



Make their consequence thy care : 
Keep the name of man in mind, 
And dishonour not thy kind. 
Reverence with lowly heart 

Keep his goodness still in view, 
Thy trust and thy example too. 

Stranger, go • heaven be thy guide '. 
Quod the Beadesinan of Nith-side. 

following were the production of yesterday as 
1 jogged through the wild hills ef New Cum- 

like them, in an epistle 1 am soin'g to write to 



hopes depend, Mr Gr 


aham of Fintr 
accomplished g 


; one of 
ntlemen, 


relation. You k 
tune. On my ec 


it, of this age. The 1 


y, but I will da 


re to say 
t the first 


n^aTconsequTnc'e 


crude thoughts, " unh 
oneaU'd." 

Pity the tuneful mnsa 
Weak, Umid landsme 


seas 


j main : 


burgh, she was t 
doors, and I wrot 

ed. Her happ 



'd, did bless on them 
pend; 
Ah, thai "the friendly e'er should warn 

The little fate bestows they share as soon ; 
Unlike sage, proverb 'd, wisdom's hard- wn 
boon. 

Who life and wisdom at one race begun ; 
Who feel by reason and who give by rule ; 
Instinct's a brute and sentiment a fool ! 
Who make poor Kill do wait upon I should 
We own they're prudent, but who feels thej 
goods' 

Ye wise ones, hence ! ye hurt the social eyi 
God's image rudely etch'd on base alloy : 



No. LTIII. 
TO THE SAME. 
Nauchline, 10(A August, 1788. 



Yours of the 24th Jun 



ery paragra] 



f yonrs, by 



answering a speech from the best of kings ! I 
express myself in the fulness of my heart, and 
may perhaps be guilty of neglecting some of your 
kind inquiries ; but not from your very odd 
reason that I do not read your letters. All 



Mrs Burns, Madam, is the 



When she first foun 
nearly to distractiot 



DIAMOND CABINET LIEI'.ARY. 



Lands, and who could trifle with such a de- 

nion for my journey of life, but, i 
honour, I have never seen the indiv 

iced an I : 
ny favour 

:aprice, perhaps apish affectation, 
vhich (pardonncz moi, madumc] 

ss of the would-be-gentry. 

way in your church-yard lucu- 
.oughts that are the spontaneous 



strength, and always an originality, that would 
in vain b looked for in fancied circumstances 
and studi-.d paragraphs. Forme, I have often 
thought of keeping a letter, in progression, by 
me, to send you when the sheet was written 
out. Now I talk of sheets, I must tell you, 
ray reason for writing to you on paper of this 
kind, is my pruriency of writing to you at 
large. A page of post is on such a dissocial, 

and double letters, at' least in my miscellaneous 



No. LIX. 

TO THE SAME. 

EUfshmd, 16/A Angvsl, 1788. 
ne disposition, my honouredfriend 
an elegiac epistle ; and want onl; 
ake it quite Shenstonian. 



"Why droops my heart 

forlorn ! 

Why sinks my soul b( 



for the struggle oi 
dulge th 






e..ul. I in.kil.'e these retb-clions, till my hum- 
lerment into the nio=t acrid chagrin, 

Vo^outiter'work thesVbau'eful fe. lings, I 



science. Pardon me, ye, my adored house- 
hold gods, Independence of Spirit, and Integ- 
rity of Soul! In the ecu 

Jn.WVs Musical Museum, a collectvii of 
Scottish tours with the nm-ie, v, as talked of. 
V.'e got a song on the harpsichord, Lc-gin- 



The air was much admired : the lady of the 
house asked me whose were the words— 
"Minejmadam -they are indeed my very best 

them! The old Scottish proverb says, well, 
" king's caff is belter than ither folk's corn. " 

be loo virulent, for" the lady is actually a wo- 

After all that has been said on the other 
happy creature. 1 do not speak of the select- 
honours, and prudence and" wisdom— I sprak 
ot the neglected many, whose nerves, whose 

If I 'thought you had never seen it, I would 
transcribe tor vr.u a stanza of an old Scottish 
ballad, called The Life and Age of Man, be- 
ginning thus, 

«' 'Twas in the sixteenth hunder year 
Of God, and fifty three, 
Frae Christ was bom, that bought us dear, 

I had an old grand-uncle, with whom my 



Life and Age of Man. 
It is this way of tlii 
.ncholy truths, that in; 



in and cry, while my 
imple old song of The 



Wlm look" for 6 ! he heart weaned'from earth '; 
the soul affianced to her God ; the correspon- 



(.-•4//1 of my letters. 1 



No. LX. 
TO R. GRAHAM OF FESTBY, ESQ. 



lonour of being introduced 
ouse, I did not think so 
vour of you. AYhen Lear, 



labour, I am totally unacquainted. 

I had intended to have closed my late ap- 
pearance on the stage of life, in the character 

death, the poor man's last and often best 
friend, rescued him. 

your patronage to forward me in this affair, 
help of rigid economy, I will try to support 



hen nature her great master-piece designed, 
,d framed hor last, best work, the human 



Then first she calls the useful many for 
Plain plodding industry, and sober wort) . 
Thence peasants, farmers, native sons of. 

And merchandise' whole genus take thf 



LETTERS. 

The order 'd system fair before 
But ere she gave creating labour 



ith arch alacrity and conscious glee 

though 'oft the prey of cere and s'or- 
ss'd to-day unmindful of to-morrow, 
md praised — and there the homage 
mite unfit for fortune's strife, 

Louging to wipe each tear, 

groan. 
Yet frequent all unheeded in his 



lay strong hold for help on bountet 



Makes a material, for 






The martial phosphorus is taught to flow, 
She kneads the lumpish philosophic dough. 
Then marks the unyielding ma=s \v th Via 

designs, 
law, physics, politics, and deep divines : 
Last, she sublimes th' Aurora of the poles, 
Th« flashing elements of female souls. 



11. 1 


r ie 


.rrg, 


res— tho' humbly" takes enoug 






efate 




ITuh 




sage, 


proverb 'd, wisdom's hard-wru 


The 
Ah, 


( 


end, 

riend 

ieiice 


re bless 'd, did bliss on them 
he friendly e'er should wan 
number o'er each sturdy son, 










Yw. 


■ i\ 


el by 


eason, and who gi-.e ty rale. 


•'I:.- 








Vt h 


Dm 


akep 


or wid do wait upon J shculd 



rho feels the, V 

the social eye ! 
base alloy ! 



Come 


, thou who 


givest with all a courtier's 


Frier, 


dlpmyUfe, 


true patron of my rhymes' 


I'r. p 


:i->- , e , rii 


hopes for future times. 


V.l.v 




ul,halfblushir.g,h:,lf-f-dd, 


b.io, 


vard, abash 


d to ask thy friendly aid f 


Ikno 


w my need, 


I know thy giving 'hand. 


I era 


re thy friend. 


hip at thy kind command ; 


But! 


■ ere are such 





DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

in his progress, but like a true Poet of Naiure 
making, kindles in his course. His 
' ' nple, and modest, as if distrustful of th 
gth of his pinion : only, I do not altogs 



But grovelling on the earth the carol ends. 

They dun benevolence with shameless front 
Oblige them, patronize their tinsel lays, 
They persecute you all your future days '. 
Ere my poor soul such deep damnation stain 
My horny fist, assume the plougli again ; 



. No. LXI. 
TO MR P. HILL. 



st Oclober, 1788. 



poesy, my ve 
of Nature's r 
thod for iin 



your author had n 



To soothe the madding passions all tc 
To soothe the throbbing passions intc 



poet's first epistle to Graham 
ich of the characteristic vigour 



knowledge of natural histc 
ginal conception correctly. 



y language, for so sub- 



argin of an hundred miles.'' 
ive that follows mountains bl 



,;',.,. I,V. :i ul :-; , - ll-r,,, 

ftc. are beautiful. A thunder-slorm is a sub- 



I know, entirely original : 
" The gloom 






, and her 


, h 




Ittle 


I think, t 




ty upon 












: 


I 



"The howl- 
r,us roar" of "the 
n the same style. 
I thus holding forth, 
of an enthusiast, I 



BURNS — LETTERS. 



lotice that beautiful paragraph, beginning, 


us; and now that your friendship a 




-i.u!y 












string, of my enjoyment of life, Ira 




1%, 


larascraphs, but they are admirably fine, and 


myself in a happy day of ■• The fea. 


t ofr 




ruly Ossianic. 


and the flow of soul. " 














crawl.* I had no idea of it when I began— I 








hould like to know who the author is ; but, 








whoever he be, please present him with my 








grateful thanks for the entertainment he has 


No. LXIir. 







or him two books, Letters on the Religion es- 
ential to Man, a book you sent me before; 
:nd, Tlie World Unmasked, or the Philosopher 
he greatest Cheat. Send me them by the first 
■pportunity. The Bible you sent me is truly 
legant ; I only wish it had been in two vo- 



Mauchline, \3!h November, 178S. 

I had the very great pleasure of dining a 
Dunlop yesterday. Men are said to flalte 
women because they are weak ; if it is so 
poets must be weaker still ; for Misses R. an 
K. and Miss G. M'K. with their flatterin: 

turned my head. I own they did not lard m 
over as many a poet does his patron . 

me with their sly insinuations and delicate inu 



tainly looked upon myself as a person of no 
small consequence. I dare not say one word 
how much I was charmed with the major's 
friendly welcome, elegant manner, and acute 
remark, lest I should" be thought to balance 





on hall 


w d 








annually a 








to d 


ecorateker 


horns with 




gra 


nud 




e family of 


Dunlop. 












So soon 


as I kno 


w of 


yon 


ram 


al at Dun- 


V,-;, I will 


or perils 


first 
pstw 




"v™ 


**•££ 




r the g 










hospitality 


There 


"V 


sot 


n be 


threescore 


* The 


Doem en 


tied 


An 


Addr 


a to Loeh 




said to 




'■■■■<■■■ 


■>■:■ 


gentleman 



the Bee of Dr Ande 



pie of universal selfishness, the proneness to 
all evil, they have given us ; still, the detes- 

or insolence to the fallen, are held by all man- 
kind, shows that they are not natives of the 

quence of his follies or his crimes— who 'but 
sympathizes with the miseries of this ruined 
profligate brother ? we forget the injuries, and 

I went last Wednesday to my perish church, 
most cordially to join in grateful acknowledg- 
ments to the Author of all Good, for the con- 
sequent blessings of the glorious revolution. 



ly, the ruling features 

tenderness of his rights 

Bred and educated ii 

the principles of reasor 



made attempts, that most of us would have 

"The bloody and tyrannical House of 

Stuart," may be said v.ilh propriety and jus- 





nt Royal Fami- 




ne subject, a 


id 


rerol 

optical 


Hon principl 
prejudice whi 


ch 


f Stun 
eh the 


end gentlem 

t, and which, 
angnage of t 
tly in our de 
it cruelly raki 


S 



? Might net t 


he epithets of 




with at least 


plied to the Ho 


use of Tudor, 


other of their p 


edecessors f 


ate of the ease, 


sir. seems to 




ce of govern- 


ledge of the tri 




subject, was, 


ike other set- 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



lerging from dark a; 

rity. 

rhe Stuarts only cc 



tile struggling \iu rt.es of hi, people: with u< 
h.ck,: ; , the ,ncnar-h failed, and his unwarrar 



No. LXIV. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 
Ellidand, 17lh December, 1788. 
K5 DEAR HONOURED JTRIKND, 
Yours, dated Edinburgh, which I have just 
read, makes me very unhappy. Almost " blind 
and wholly deaf," are melancholy news of hu. 
man nature ; but when told of a much loved 
Hid honoured friend, they carry misery in the 



.pily for us, the kingly powej 
another branch of the family, 



in 1715 and 1715. That 



and a* as inad- 
aiostus? 






>ur ichole Legislative Body, for similar 
no, and ala.ost in the very same terms, 
jrefalhers did of the House of Stuart! 
)t, I cannot enter iuto the merits of the 
.ut I dare say the American Congress, 

1 as the English convention was in 



j Scotsman), who ever looked with rew 
lal pily on the dotage of a parent, cast 
over the fatal mistakes of the kings of hi 



eome newspaper, probably the publisher of the 
Edinburgh Evening Courant, 



ongly e 



My small 



il hurt my worldly c 



not have been plagued ™Uh an, idea's superior 

n°ot b !o a memio f "bar 8 " d aDd picki " S Up F u! " ' 

lives at an, tim'jf you mntibufsHeU I 

either of us; but if 1 hear \ou are got so well 
again as to be able to relish conversation, look 

fair of Aj'r, and by bII that is sabred' in the 
world, friend, I will come and see you. 

Your meeting, which yon so well describe, 
with your old schoolfellow and friend, was truly 



Then 



song ai 



,___!. You know lam an 
enthusiast in old Scotch songs. I shall give 
you the verses on the other sheet, as I suppose 

Light be tbetnif'on the^reMl of the Hea- 
ven-inspired poet who composed this glorious 
fragment ! There is more of the tire of native 
genius in it, than in half a dozen of modern 
English Bacchanalian*. Now I am on my 
hobby horse, I cannot help inserting two other 



■s the sing of Auld Ian 



BURNS — 


LETTERS. " 115 


The ship rides by Ine Berwick-law, 




And I mann lea'e my bonnie Wary. 


No. LXVI. 


The trumpets sound, (he banners fly, 
The -littering spears are ranked ready : 


TO SIR JOHN WH1TEFORD. 






The battle closes thick and bloody : 




But it's not the rocr o' sea or shore. 


Mr M-Renzie, in Mauchline, my very warm 


Wad make me langer wish to tarry ; 


and worthy friend, has informed me how much 




you are pleased to interest yourself in my fate 


It's leaving thee, my bonnie Mary. 


as a man, and, (what to me is incomparably 




dearer) my fame as a poet. I have, sir, in one 










No. LXV. 








TO A YOUNG 1ADY, 


first gentleman in the country whose Lenevo- 



liAM, December, 1788. 

erstand my very wottby neighbour, Mr 
I, has informed you that I have made 
h* subject of some verses. There is 
hing so provoking in the idea of being 

r Moses, though such patterns of pa- 



ould hav 



have met your ear. I have heard or read 
somewhere of a gentleman, who had some 

tal groups of life into which one is thrown, 

agreeable recollection 'o his memory. What 

tome: and the verses I do myself the honour 
to send you are a memento exactly of the same 

It may be more owing to the fastidiousness 
of my caprice, than the delicacy of my taste, 
that I am so often tired, disgusted, and hurt 
with the insipidity, affectation, and pride of 



idolatry, whi 



vely feel 



s before I 

10.1 would 
ruly sorry 



master enough of the etiquette of these mat 
to know, nor did I stay to inquire, whel 



mak.ng, a certain modest sensibility, mixed 
with a kind of pride, that will ever. keep him 
out of the way of those windfalls of fortune, 
which frequently light on hardy impudence and 
foot-licking servility. It is not easy to imagi. a 

fa"cy unfits him 5 for the world, and whose 
character as a scholar, gives him some preten- 
sions to the politesse of life— yet is as poor as 

For my part, I thank Heaven, my star has 

above the peasant's shed, and I have an inde- 
pendent fortune at the plough tail. 



oop to traduce the morals of such a one as I 
m and so inhumanly cruel, too, as to mcddlo 

r'my story! V lade, I thank 

jse'd in behalf of my conduct. I am, I ac- 



re you for your goodne 



No. LXVII. 
FROM MR G. BURNS. 

Mossgiel, Ut January, 1789. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

minds of a different 



si fini.he 



.v-yea 



rally mak 
;ing to you, i 



GILBERT BLRXS. 



No. LXVIIL 

TO MRS DIKvLOP. 






ny day about the end, of autumn : these, lime 
out of mind, have been with me a kind of holi. 



thers, I always keep holy, after having -was. 
myself, and offered up my morning devoiio 
I ascended the high hill of Bagdat. in ordei 
pass the rest of the day in meditation i 

We know nothing, or next to nothing, 
the substance or structure of our souls, 
cannot account for those 



priilg, among which are the monn- 
1 daisy, the hare-bell, the fox-glove, the 



if devotioil or poetry. Tell me, my dear 
Wend, to what can this be owing? Are we 
i piece of machinery, which, like the jEolian 
larp, passive, takes the impression of the pas- 

oraelhing within us above the trodden clod r 
: own myself partial to such proofs of those 



/• ' No. LXIX. 

TO DR MO ORE. 
Elliiland, near Dumfries, iih Jan, 178 






iting to you, which 



- I say, my business is with 

i never had any with me, ex- 

;s that benevolence has in the 

rty. 

r and employment of a poet 



the preface to my 
myself as having 



experi 



Another 



■inly believe, that 
s the fruit of in- 

£F'£rS 

"niued 



never arrive- but poesy I 
osecute with all my vigour. Nature has 
very few, if any, of the profession, the 
ts of shining in every species of composi- 
tion. I shall try (for until trial it is .mpossi- 

in any one. The worst of it is, by the 
one has finished a piece, it has been so 
often viewed and reviewed Lefon 



powers o 



crimination. Here the 



BCKNS.-LETTERS. 



- G. "Esq. or Rol 



best criterion I know is a friend-not only of 
abilities to judge, but with good nature enough, 

' » perhaps a Utile more than is exactly 
,- . ...- -bin-skinned animal fall into that 
e of all noetic diseases- heart- 
elf. Dare I, sir, 
already "immensely indebted to your goodness, 

friend to me ? I inclose you an'es 
in a walk of poesy ' 
the epistle addres< 

Graham of Fintry, Esq. a gentleman of un- 
common worth, to whom I lie under very 



I believe, I shall, in whole, L 100 copy -right 
included, clear about £400 some litii. n:^ ; 

gentleman has yet to settle with me. I give 
you this information, because you did me the 
honour to interest yourself much in n.y wel- 



ive the rest of my story in brief, I have 
I " my Jean, " and taken a farm ; with 
: step I have every day more and more 

he reverse. I have a younger brother, 
pports my aged mother ; another still 
r brother, and three sisters, in a farm. 



between my brother and his impending fate by 

on this, for it yvas mere selfishness on my part ; 
I was conscious that the wrong scale of the 
balance was pretty heavily charged, and 1 

fraternal affection, into the scale in my favour, 

reclaming. There is still one thing would 
make my circumstances quite easy ; I have an 
excise officer's commission, and I live in the 

midst of a country division. My request to 
Mr Graham, who is one of the commissioners 
of excise, was, if in his power, to procure me 

might procure'meTtreasury^waMaut for an- 

Thus secure of a livelihood, "to thee, sweet 

poetry, delightful maid," I would consecrate 

JVo. LXX. 
TO BISHOP GEDDES. 

EUislaml near Dumfries, 3d Ki. 1789. 

me the honour to interest yourself in mv°wel- 
fare, it gives me pleasure to inform you," that I 
am here at last, stationary in the serious 



i that first concern, the conduct of the 



but when the £ 
follies, to' give 



ve been a fool to have hei 
i to have made another c 

! affair of a livelihood, 1 

iut should they fail," I h 



it of habituo 
me, which n 
it, nos.phis 
ver justify, 



mty-nve years of my 
iim and method in 



at forgotten. I am, if pus. 

d to study man and natu 
incf>s.-.u':!v ; and to try il 
orrectionsof years can ei 



,een tuning n.y ly 
>ome larger poetic f 
mag.nation, or pari 
mpart to you wh< 



which I be; 
, ihat I have 
iks of Nith. 



have the pleasur 
»«° i""< wmch, if you are the: 
irgh, I shall have about the begin. 

t acquaintance, worthy sir, with nl 

me to challenge; for, 'with «hat 
ern I give up my transient co.inec 



No. LXXI. 

FROM THE REV. P. C 

SIR, 2d January, 17R9. 

you have lately seen Mrs Dunlop of Dun- 
9, you have certainly heard of the author of 
e verses which accompany this letter. He 
is a man highly respectable for every aceom- 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY, 
and poetic genius, 



in life, and confined the perfect knowledge of , existence, that he is ushered into this state of 

' - e key of 

from~a7,'a few'^eeka ago, b7 an "inflammatory 
fever, in the prime of life—beloved by all 
who enjoyed his acquaintance, and lamented by 
all who have any regard for virtue or genius. 
There is a woe pronounced iu Scripture against 
the person whom all men speak well of ; il 
ever that woe fell upon the bead of mortal 
man. it. fell udou him. He has left behind 



liefly poeti 

impfete and regular 

it subjects. It falls I 






e of th ( 



:l 111; 



s frie 



j ; .ou 



the inclination of Jlr Myln 
ley should be immediately published in son 
eriodieal work, to give the world a specim< 
" what may be expected from )us performanc 
l the poetic line, which, perhaps, will 1 
fterwards published for the advantage of h 



P. C 



No. LXXII. 

) MRS DUNLOP. 

KUisland, ith March, 1789. 
ly honoured friend, returned safe 
il. To a man, who has a home, 
lie or remote—if that home is 

burgh will soon be a business of 
and glory of this world, I hate 



lemean sys 
id he been 



n the world, 
ritude of his 
it his horns, 



alteration, not to mention the prodigious saving 
it would be in the tear and wear of ihe neck 



»nce, or 'an iucTof The" 
^spectful distance, which t 



ce, under the title of Scottish P. 
very term of Scottish Poetry b 



quested a perusal of a 
>e proper for 



What it is that occupies 
perhaps a little c 

In the meantime" 



aie-.-. 



i by a 



r: ;.oc 



iy guest 

Like the fair plant that fro 
Shrink mildly feai 



> make ia 
mcb with- 



Ani -: 






all shall long to know the v< 



No. LXXTIL 
TO THE REV. P. CARFRAE. 









on of nonsense under the name of Sc 
oetry. Subscription-bills for Scottish 



st justly entitled 

t 
I crave the h 






in two or (!,r e En? i = u . i Scottish publi 
papers, any one of his English poems whic 
should, by private judges, Le thought the mos 

one' of the productions of a Lothian farmer 

poems his friends had it in idea to publish 



* These beautiful lines, we have re 



No. LXXiV. 
TO DR MOORE. 

SIR, Ellhland, 23d March 

The gentleman who will deliver you 

Mr IV-iU.n, a worthy clergyman in 



can effectually serve him :_i Mr i\eil=on is\;t 
his waj for France, to wait on his Grace of 
tjti=fi.,b=-rrv. on = o:ue little business of a good 
deal of importance to him, 4nd he wishes for 
your instructions respecting the most eligible 



lared to take this liberty with you, but that I 
iu told, by those who have the honour of your 



r, gives you "iuch plea 



You* 


robably 


knewi- 


er personali;, an houou'r 


of wl 


ich 1 car 




ist ; but I spent my 


early 


years 


it's' and 


ie*aL! 




-.!.;f 


ci.. t,r 


ed with 


the most heartfelt cord 




11 UV 


ver, in tne par 


cularpartofher c 




whic 






ic wrath, she was 


much 


lessb 




In Jar.ua 




to Ay 


shire, I 
















pace 


The i 




as keen, and the 


grim 








wind were usheriu 










ft. My horse and 


were 


both 
day, 


much fa 


igued 


with the labours 
friend .the Bailie 


f the 
and I 




bidding 


defian 


e to the storm, c 






ng bowl, 








of th 

forced 


late gr 


at air 
all th 


s , and poo 

horrors of the le 
e my horse, my 
31 I had just cur. 


mpes- 


i - 






farther on, throug 


.'li.c 








lis of Ayrshire, u 




Lun.i 


ock, the 




n. The powers of 


poesy 



No. LXXV. 
TO MR HILL. 

Ellhland, 2d April, I7S9. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRAR'/. 



],oib 
thy [ 
lead me, h 



weary fe 
,leak and 



n thy aged 
ougli those 



hot walls c 



potent as he now is, was once the puling nurs. 
ling of thy faithful care, and tender arms! 
(ill me thv son, thy cousin, thy kinsman, or 
favourite, and adjure the god, hy the scenes of 
hi, infant years, no longer to repulse me as a 
stranger, or an alien, but to favour me with 
his peculiar countenance and protection 1 H 



oppress! 


n, or 


he vult 


re of p 


ublic robbe 


But to 


desce 


dfrom 


heroies 




I want 


a Sli 


ikspear 


; I «i 


ant likewi 


English 


i:cio 






s, I suppo 


best. I 




andal 














for me. 


isasma 


i d.Lt 




ll-lhr.t 


I owe Mr I 


Cleghor 






on M 




friend, 






1-wishe 


r. Pleas 


him, at 


i urz 


him t 




t, the fin, 




him/t 


en sb.il) 


■ gs v.o 


th of any 



commission for " The Monkland *>ieudlj 

Society" — a copy of The Spectator, Mirror, 
and Lounger ; Man of Feeling, Man of the. 



No. LXXVI. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 

EUidand, 2d April, 1789. 

ng these give half the pleasure to you 
uuii.cating them to you gives to me 



rather" 






t Hon. C. J. Fox 



SKETCH. 

lisdora and folly meet, r 



;ing : If these mortals, the < 

bustle, 
are not, not I, let the critics 



with the half of 'e 
t>ng; 



Mr Monteith of C 



iod L d. what is man! for as simple 

ion of he looks 

auspicesof : Do hut try to develope his hooks and his 
will be on crooks ; 

. gave his ' With his depths and his shallows, his good 



BURNS. 

On his one rnling passion Sir Pope hugely 
That HkeTfae old Hebrew walking-sn 



Save,™ 

As by one 



No. LXXVII. 
TO MR CUNNINGHAM. 

LAR SIR, Ellisland, ilh May, 1789. 



which I think will b< 



nething in that business of destroying, 
hat"do' not InjaWVs material™ which 



S"or ever pleasure glad thy cruel heart. 

3o live, poor wanderer of the wood and : 
The bitter little that of life remains ; 
No more the thickening brakes or vi 

ro thee a home, or food, or pastime yieli 
Thai vroSted form, alas ! thy dying be 
fhe cold earth with Ihy blood-stained 



That life a mother on]} 

Oft as by wincing Nitl 
The soLer eve, or ha 

hapless fate. 

Let me know how 

am doubtful whether i 



•of mat 



noble Coloue 



a glorious product! 

ue tune of ( ■ three goodfelloics ayonl the 

No. LXXTIIL 

Dem in thi 
sent by ou 
sm. Th( 
.reply.] 

FROM DR GREGORY. 



k you for your letter, and th 
nclosed in it. As there is re 
I mean both fancy, and tender, 



rhymes : and you may judge from tb< 
pieces of Mrs Hunter's poetry, that I ; 
how much correctness and high polisi 
the value of such compositions. A' 



DIAMOND LAi-iNE! LIF.ilAKY. 



sir 


it, I si 


all, 


with great 


freedom, 


give 


you 
























another 














1 I will 






iVr 


s Hume 






re, will 1 






pic 






,ng i.. P 










efor m 




and her to 


o, n copy 


(as 


■v.uch 




ended a 






the Wata 


Ft, 




L. 


tl T r, 
















nded 


Hare is 


pretty good 


sub- 


/;' 




and 


MrhyufH 


r the feu 


s 


have 

and 






lerp, 




ril"U" 


III 




J° 


, I WO 


uld 




a diflere 




-mi 



word j unsuitable to p.itU-lic or y-t»,u 5 po, try. 


sauntering by the delightful wind 


ngsof 


" Mangled" is a course word. " Innocent, " 




e hu.lt 




humble domicile, praying for .ease 






- 


he Mus 


Stanza 4 " Who will now provide that 






life a mother only can bestow," will not do at 


iMeKOurfeTTs Vain" enured in' 


o the h 


all: i. is not grammar-.! is not intelligible. 


slate of matrimony, I trust my fac 




Do you mean •« provide for that lite wh.ch the 


completely Zion-ward ; and as it is 


a rule w 




fellows, to repeat no g 




There was a ridiculous slip of the pen, 






«' Feeling" (1 suprose) for » Fellow," in the 


flueuce of some good-natured statute 


ot cel-e 


title of your copy of %erses; tut even fellow 


proscription. In my family devoti 




would be wrong: it is tut a colloquial and 




' - 



;table to yot 

On seeing a per 

m; hut if you th 
ore of Mrs Hunt, 



No. LXXIX. 
TO MR M'ATJXEY, OF DUMBARTON. 

and wrong, c i Latt Day, 

yet I trust there is one sin, which that arch- 
vagabond, Satan, who, I understand, is to be 



the psalm, •• Let not the errors of my youth, " 

heritage, '* &c. in which last Mrs Hums, who, 
by the bye, has a glorious " wood-note wild" 
at either old song or psalmody, joins me with 
the pathos of Handel's Messiah. 



No. LXXX. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 

EVMand, 2lst June, 1789. 



fact it appears, as the sailors say, to have | i 

thrown him quite -..: En 9 leltef which he Will you take the effusions, the miserable ef. 
wrote soon after, he says, «• Dr G is a fusions of low spirits, just as they flow from 

" I believe in the iron justice of Dr G — ; cnlar cause tor this worst of all my foes beset- 

lick'.ning" atmosphere 6 of 

Holiday Evening. 



However, he profited by these cr 

of the poem, with that published afterw: 



He is a man famous for h 



BURNS LETTERS. 

mple busi. 



mind, a, well as from llie evident imperfection, 
nay, positive injustice, in the administration of 



from GoJ. 8P " 

the happiness of mba 



rdpuntvof 
ralleled by 
learning or 



FROM DR MOORE. 
Clifford Street, 10th June, 17S9. 
on 'for the difFerent 



!Of y 



of vvhi 
it of a 



1 produ 



Minburgh or London, bv 
h an occasion, it may be 
very much in my inclina- 

n'op.'nion, it would be, 
■ductions you should aban. 

uage of modern English 
ad humour of your Holt/ 



nzas from that beginning with 
asy, flowing, gaily philosophi- 



English, with a/™ Scottish words, and some 

for what poet would not prefer gloaming to 
twilight. 

ihe first, ready fur the press; and this, without 
d.-.erlinrr you from every proper attention to Hie 
study and practice of Husbandry, in which I 



s agreeable gipsey, 



very good friend, Mrs Hamilton, who I und 



No. LXXXIt. 

FRCP.! MISS J. L . 

sih, Loudcn-Hovsc, IWiJvlg, 

so. ally acquainted with you, yet among 



ery much again! 



i Duulop of Dun 
d the Taiur'e"'/ 






; of your future friet 



Fair fa' ibe honest rv 



The pride o' a' our Scottish plain : 
Thou gi'es us joy to hear thy strain, 

Old Ramsay 's thade revived again 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

dship : yet hoping you wil] show yourself 
:ssed of as much generosity and good- 



Loved Thalia, 
Seen, 'd lung s 
To all she did 

•Till Burns ar 




td 


elightfu' 


1. 


il 


refuse, 
Allan's 

ace his la 


To hear thy sa 
Apollo with p 


° 5 l 


I, 


ranks dot 



Crcsar and Luat! 
"lis pity e'er .1,, 



And knots u 

■led u re, once 
Nine miles 1 

>n to G. II. 



ith so much pathos y 
ul glanced by the moi 



Tlic daisy too ye sing wi' skill ; 
And wee! ye praise the whisky gill : 
In *ain I blunt my feckless quill, 

Your fame lo raise j 
While echo sounds from ilka bill, 

To Burus's praise. 

Did Addison or Pope but hear. 

Or Sam, that critic most soere, 

A ploughboy sing with throat s~.e cleai 



Dispensed by 
Sir, I hope you 
net earnestly so 



in indulgent care 
To Robert Burns 



nay justly be found liable to ce 
Measure, I shall take the liberty 
ay self. 

Sir, 
Your most obedient humble 
J 

P. S.— If you would condescei 
ne with a few lines from your hi 
ake it as a particular favour, and 
t Loudon-llouse near Galelock. 

No. LXXXIIL 
FROM MR 



Lcndon, 5th Avguet, 178 

I say, that the uncororo 
i possess, must render yc 
ry acceptable to any one. 
am particularly proud of yc 



ress my happnu 
1, Bob Fergussc 



ty and genius. That 






young and old, tl 



spirit and animat 


on which 


am, dear Sir, yo 


irs, &c. 


LXXXIV. 




THE FOREGOING. 


er in this partic 


tlar sea- 



BURNS. -LETTER 



eard of her 



eighty reasons you merit 



rvedly ii 



eighty 



.ether I 



The so 

as a reader, exhibited such a brilliancy vm'" 
,t, such an elegance of paragraph and ; wrUe 
. variety of intelligence, that I can hard- I N>| 
ceive it possible to continue a daily P^per slruCl 
same degree of excelli 



mely rarely" inspired by the Alt 



ne) tl 






ties equa 



l proprie 



When I received your le 
Ing for , mj let 

of the Canorgate, Edi">> 



Would I a 
I would sit d< 
as I would tc 
composition, 
ligiou, my d 



ith as much pleasur 

l^u^the Iliad. R 
is the true comfort 
l future slate of eii 
rasly probabl. 






'there be a 


life beyo 


lid ll 


e gr 


ive, »h 


overall n 


iture, n 




"„" 


uKlher 




ijoying e 


















in the ma 








pleasure- 




g p, 














titles ar 










f an id 




e that he 












ceVf 




dy dul 


fhose th 


" 


tho 

the 


"nS 


fSv 


MuSrfl 


vlolfas 




'hat 


never'b 


Adieu, 




_ 




on as yc 










entred i 


1 shall b 
welfare a 


e glad t 


'JlT 


r fr 
sby 


name™ 


iudiffere 


u to 









o the 



No. LXXXV. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 
EMsUind, 6lh September, 1789. 

Tynh 

r/of\i 



anly countenance, and a hgure that 
mi-ht do credit to a little fellow two mouths 
older; and likewise au excellent good temper, 
thou'h when he pleases he has a pipe, only not 
quite so loud as the horn that his immortal 



I, that 1 was opposing the 



■ ' Against the day of battle and of war, "— 

=Tis ftfefha'tgUda the horror of our night. 

When friends are faithless, or when foes pur- 
'Tis this that wards the blow, or stills lh 9 

Bids^ fflUing^Liei^spreai her cloudless 

I have been very busy with Zeluce. The. 
Doctor is so obliging as to request my opmion 
of it ; and I have been revolving in my mind 
some kind of critic 
depth bey 



_ earch. I shall 
:st my "thoughts on the subject as 

Farewell '. A J)ieu, U bon Dieu, je vow< 



:■! • '.r, 



lime ago an epistle, pari 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

And tired o' sauls to wasl 



No. LXXXVL 
f'KOM DR BLACKLOCK. 
Edinburgh, 5 



Both for thy virtues 
If art it ma, be call 






d tl.» a 



Willi pleasi 
Wlu- 



u th> I. 



is tby « 
laugh iv 



■am dil'iiM-s. 
i all the Mru 



Or bid 



i easy grace, 
imbera move the sage's face, 

i ruiulcss souls vtilh grief surprise, 
•Tin Nature's voice distinctly felt. 
Through thee her organ, thus to melt. 



Will 



u-lj I wish lokao 



:<t» go; 



teps thy maeh-k 
Wln.t promisee thj fur,,, of we*Uh r 
Whether the Maee persists to imUe, 

Whether bright fancy keeps alive ? 
And bow tby darling infants thrive » 



II, and live all dav : 
urn. my Look and friend enjoy, 
thus my circl i.g hours employ ; 

jms could join the cheerful Irain, 

THO. BLACKLOCK. 



No. LXXWII. 
TO DR BLACKLOCK. 

EUitlarJ, 21s< October, 1789. 



" > r ' u 



The ill-thief blan 



ie? 



II 

lippeu'd to the cl 



And bade nae Letter, 
ii Master Heron, 



I'm turn'd a ganger-Peace be here ! 
Parnassian queens, I fear. I fear. 

And then my fifty pounds a-ycar 

Will little gain me. 


Ye glaiket, gle 
Wha Ly Castal 
Lowp, sing, ai 


some, dainty dam 

"'ieteCye 

essity supreme is 
Wang sons 


'indues. 


That Strang ne 


o'men. 


They maun" ha 
feCenjonnel 


d twa wee laddies. 
Lrose and brats o 
n,y hear, right pro 


id is, 



I needna vaunt. 
Hut I'll lend besoms— thrnw saugh woodics, 
— — Before they want. 

! ord help me through this warld o' care ! 



C„:ne, Finn Ill-solve, Ink tli.m Ihe van, 

a, "A , |a.ly n fnir r : W '" > 
Wha does the utmost that lie can. 

Will whjlesdomair. 

But to conclude my silly rhyme, 

To uiake a happy fireside clime 

That's the true pathos and sublime 
Of human life. 

My compliments to sister Beckie ; 
And eke the same to honest Lucky ; — 

And gratefully my gude auld cockie, 

I'm yours for aye. 
ROBERT BURNS. 

No. LXXXVIII. 

TO R. GRAHAM, ESQ. OF FIN'TRY. 

SIR, 9(A December, 1789. 

I have a good while had a wish to trouLle you 
wilh a letter, and had certainly done it long era 



BURNS.— LE'i iers. 



interest he is so kindly taking in your con- 


cerns, you ought by every thing in your power 


to keep alive and cherish." Now though, 




powerful and another helpless, the connexion 


of obliger and obliged is all fair ; and though 


honourable^'et^ir^^ 




interested yourself in my welfare, and princi- 


pally as such still, you pera.t me to approach 

y° n - . , . 


I have found the excise business go on a 
great deal smoother with me than 1 expected ; 


: ;. .od deal to the generous friendship 


of Mi Mitchell, my collector, and the kind 


assistance of Mr Fmdlater, my superior. I 




do I find my hurried life greatly inimical to 




visits to me, indeed, and I believe to most of 




angels, are short and far between ; but I meet 


them now and then as I jog through the hills 


of Nithsdale, just as I used to do oh the banks 




few bagatelles, all of them the productions of 




If you know or have ever seen Captain 


Grose, the antiquarian, you will enter into any 


humour that is in the verses on him. Perhaps 


you have seen them before, as I sent them to 


a London Newspaper. Though I dare say 


vou have none of ihe solemn-lea-ue-and-cove- 


uant fire, v.hich shone so conspicuous in Lord 




yet I "think you must have heard of Ur M'Giii, 




book. God help him, poor man! Though he 




ablest of the whole priesthood of the Kirk of 


Scotland, in every sense of that ambiguous 


term, yet the poor Doctor and his numerous 




out to the mercy of the whiter-winds. The 


iaUosed ballad on that business is, I confess. 


too local, but I laughed myself at some con- 




liiat there are a good many heavy 


" The a ele r ctio t n°banad, as you will see, alludes 


borou|hs! re= T'do Ca no\ aS Llie"e U there S will be 




election. * 


I am too little a man to have any political 


attachments: I am deeply indebted to, and 


have the warmest veneration for, individual. 




power to be the father of a country, and who 


speak of with patience. 


Sir J. J. does "what man can do," but 


yet I doubt his fate. 


* This allrdes to the contest for the bo- 


rough of Dumfries, berwo.-n the Duke of 


Johnstone.' 






No. LXXXIX. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 



ive to our happiness _ 
of our misery. For 
have been so ill with 
at I have been obliged 



ssiens of anguish, and refill ,.g or de- 
ome^a^'da D», &KoTO night, and 



vu .:,-. , aid we must shortly li ! 

e will make us learn 'd as you are. 

! possible, that when I resign this 
frail, feverish being, I shall still find myself in 
cious existence ! When the last -gasp of 



fe,™e e ei l u t g r 'anu e ' 



from th 

ch-ri.' There should i' 



lit, as I ardently w 
:t an aged parent, 
ry bufferings of ai 



s of human nature, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 
n thy lover lowly laid ? 



Jesus Christ, thou a 



te of exist 


nee, shall 




eptions, n 


al inclined 


to think v 




are called 


ason. I can 


not think ; 



he ahle to write any thing Letter, or indeed any 

Rumour told me something of a son of 
tours who has returued from the East or 
Weil Indies. If you ha>e gotten news of 

lei me* know '; as'l'promise you, on "ihe since- 
rity of a man, who is weary ot one world ana 
anxious about another, that scarce any thing 

an_> good thing befalling my lionoured friend. 

pen in pity to le pauvi-t miicraUc 

It. B. 



TO SIR JDli.N SINCLAIR. 

The following circumstance has, I believe, 

untied (o you, of the parish of Dunscore, in 
N.ibsdale. 1 beg leave to send it to you, be- 
cause il is new and may be useful. How far 



nprovement of that part of his own species, 
lio-n chance has thrown into ihe humble 



worthy of his attention. 

Mr Riddel got a number of his own tenant 
and farming neighbours, to form tbemselv 
into p society for the purpose of having a libra 

engagement to abide by ii for three yean 
with a saving clause or two, in case of remov 
to a distance, or of death. Each member, _. 

iheir meetings, which were held every fourth . 
Saturday, sixpence more. With their ciilr; 



cided by the majorily. At every 
, by way of penally, were lo be pro- 
thai night, first on the list, had his 



and so on through ihe whole three years. At 
ihe expiration ot the engagement, the Looks 
were sold by auction, but only among the 
members themselves : and each man had his 

At the breaking up of this little society, 
which was lorn..-.' u r Mr Knldel's patron- 
age, what with benefactions of books from 
him, and what with their own purchases they 
had collected logether upwards of one hundred 
and lifts volumes. It will easily, be guessed, 
thai a good deal of trash would be bought. 





were Blair '» .Vrmuio, lUAer hon\ Ills- 




Holland, lUmc'sllti.toryoJ ihe Stoa.ls, 




dolor, Idler, AaveiUurer, Mirror, 




, tcrver, M noj Feeling, Men of ihe 


World, 


















, very little removed, except in shape, 






Wis! 


ug your patriotic exertions their so 








Sir, 




Your humble servant. 




A PEASANT.* 


* The 


above is extracted from the third vo- 


lame of 


Sir John biuclair's Statistics, p. 598. 




inclosed to Sir John by Mr Riddel 


himself 


iu the following letter, also printed 



felt, particularly among the younger class of 



BURNS. - 

No. XCI. 
TO MR GILBERT BURNS. 

ERisland, llth January, 1790. 
an to take advantage of the frank, though 



my pre 



:'t irai 



t, though not lea 



ig, suiTeiing, or fotbeariug, 
:les by persevering. 

)t least, in love, ye youthful 



And humbly begs you'll mind the impor 
own your happiness, he asks your 



We have gotten a set of very decent players 
here just now. I have seen them an evening 
or two. David Campbell, in Ayr, wrote to 

Sutherland, who is a man of apparent worth. 
On New-year-dpy evening I gave him the 
following prologue, wh.on he spouied to his 
audience with applause. 

No song nor dance I bring from yon great 

That queens it o'er our taste— the more's the 

Though, by the bye, abroad why will you 



anegyric I appe: 



11 a gow 



wyea 



Old Father Ti 

Not for to preacn, Lot tell n,s simple story : 

The sage grave ancient cough d, and bade nit 

" You're one year older this important day, ' 

But 'twou'd be rude, yi.ii k<-ow, to ask th< 



No. XC1I. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 



He bade 






ink, 



Ye sprightly youths, q 

vVhoihi i.k tosto'rmthew 
To vou the dotard has a d 
In hi, sly, dry, sentenHo. 



Id by dint of merit, 
proverb way ! 



That though some by the skirl 

snatch him, 
Yet by the forelock is the hold to 



people, 1 think, that if a similar plan we 
land, it would tend greatly to the speedy ii 



sense of his public spu 

improvement and into: 

'Ihavethehou 



1 KuSiiRT RIDDEL.' 



1 no * begin once 
and enjoyment v 

Ct Ma U ny S "tbanks, 



uinded of the r 



mure. After weathering the dreadful' catas- 
trophe he so feelingly descrihes in his poea. 



frigate: I for- 





* Falconer 


was 


in e 


arly life a 


ea-loy. to 




- a word of 


-l'>\ 


=;••-■■ 


re, on board 






r, in which 












Campbell, 






or of the sa 


tire c'.; l.'r 








Zejripfumes, the 


piirstr or 


th 


d delighted 


■ . 






tiou ; st.d 


» 


en Falcone 


"if 


"= 


rds acquire. 


cd=bri!5. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



'• Little did my mother think, 

Thai day she cradled me. 
What land I was to travel in. 



.therold liinp'i ballad, whi 
dense you. The calastropli 

e concludes with this pall 



le for his fat. 
uloting J 

the line 






is scholar. The < 



war, in 1777. who knew both Campbell and 
Falconer, and who himself p- rished soon after 
by shipwreck, on the coast of America. 

Though the death of Falconer happened so 
lately as 1770 or 1771. yet in the b ography 
prefixed by I), Anderson to his w rks, in the 
*"'-i of the Poets of G eat Brilam, 



"Oft! 

i of Williai 



■nily, \ 



le cox-t of Fife, and that 
1 suffered some mi„fur- 
of the sea-ports of Eng- 



These last circumstances 
* The bard's second s 



e however less 
, Francis. 



I liiousht to have smt you some rhymes, but 

it- l,:i LkU. I promise you poetry until you 

iuring you how truly I am, 4c. 



No. XCTII. 
FROM MR CUNNINGHAM 



more elegantly express, thiin 



"Tim 








Aist 


Fame 


their channels deeper wear. "' 


llav 


ig in 


ttcn to you twice with 


ut having 


heard f 












•d. My conjecture is o 


ly framed 


upon 


he cl 


aptcr of accidents tti 


rning up 






« it too often does, in the trivial". 






Ii truth ndd, the more 


cEaVl'y 


aflairs 


riifc 


but I shall continue oc 



lo inform you what is going on among tl 
;:rele of jour friends in tln-se parts. In these 
Jays of merriment, I have frequently beard 
|four name proclaimed at the jovial board — 
under the roof of our hospitable friend at 

'• Lingering moments number'd with care. " 

I saw your Addrcts lo the Keic-t/car in the 
Tumfries Journal. Of your productions I 
shall say nothing, but my acquaintances allege 
that when your name is mentioned, which 

ery man of celebrity must know often hap- 

With lest complnnents to your wife, and her 
black-eyed sister, I remain, yours, &c 



No. XCTV. 
TO MR CUNNINGHAM. 



onable, unsightly sheet— 

My poverty but not my will consents. " 

sheet of silt, which lies in my drawer among 
my plebeian foolscap pages, like the widow of 



BURNS LETTERS. 



Msndal-bearing help-mate of a village ] 
or a glass of whisky-toddy, -Kith the 
nosed joke-fellow of a foot-padding exci 



gilt paper. 

I am indeed your unworthy di 
friendly letters. I ought to h 



1 ' Sincere, though imper! 



Tuesday, \6lh. 
Luckily for me, I was prevented from the . 
Jufmjfeai 






of this world : if tl 



a Deist, but 1 fear, every fair, 
t that there are any very stag- 



December, 178 



Can you be that son of levity, who takes up ; 
friendship as he takes up a fashion ; or ar. 
you. like some other of the worthiest fellow: 



ble of enjoying pleasure, 





, it 


is s 


jrely 




b.v 


of 


-.VlleLii 

of lire 


v.h 


"he. 




odfe 




ng 


nyoit 


Tped 






applies 
































:-._ 


ioTi ; 


>li i 


",' b 


eh 1 


■u° 


>o 




in 


self- 
tha 
pete 

ma 


icy. 


ih, 


"a 


Th 


Z%\ 




osev 




joy 







n few of them 



Sunday, lilh February, 179 
God help me ! I am now obliged to join 
«' Night to day, and Sunday to the week. ' 



T 'rial of a saving Interest, <}-c. but " The] 
no balm in Gilead, there is no physi 
there, " for me ; so I shall e'en tarn Armin 



inch ; that we are to live for ever," see 
ood neics to be true. That we are to 
,to a ne*v scene of existence, where, e 

nd our friends without satiety or separa 

.•ho could fully assure me that this wa 



to Mr Cleghon 

preside over conviviulny and friendship, be 
present with all their kindest influence, when 
the bearer of this, Mr Syme, and you meet ! 
I wish I could also make one — 1 thh.k we 

should be 

Finally, brethren, farewell! Whatsoever 

-: kind, think on these* things", and 
think on 

ROBERT BURNS. 



No. XCV. 
TO MR HILL. 



by the following books, which yu are to se. ; a 
Lounger, Man of "t\el,ng, Man of the World, 



any good Histon. ct l-.e R..uU:on in 1745; A 
Display of the Secession Act and Tee imony, by 
Mr Gibb; Hervey's ill, dilations; Beverage's 
Thoughts; and another copy of Watson's Body 



is ago, to pay sc 
me purpose, but 






Excise Laws, 'or an Abridgment of all the Sta- 
tutes now in force, relative to the Excise, by 
Jellinger Symons : 1 want three copies of lhi» 
book; ifitisnowto be had, cheap or dear. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



kewise for myself, as yo 
second-handed or cheap 
)ramut<c Works, Ben Jon. 






M°" Hill"" l°i'ru™t if 
elitniuUy handsome, al 



isador, English coon 
all patience (o see t 
astiugs, impeached by 



good things we chance to have, is horn with 
oa ; but we are placed here amid so much 
nakedness, and hunger, and poverty, and want, 
that we are under a cursed necessity of blu'ly- 
— : d order that we may ex.iV ' 



StTll th'-i'e are.'in e.,r, a_-,-,"a few .otils/Vht.'t 


worth, 


to give lb 




guiive 


lioweve 


selfishness, or eren to the necessary alloy of 




abstract fr 


caution and prudence. If ever I am In danger 






of vanity, it is when I contemplate myself on 


of hill 




this side of mv disposition and character. 






God knows I am no saint; 1 have a whole 






host of follies and sins to answer l„r ; but if 1 




the world 



of the Loimger. 
Sptctalor, Adi-t 



No. XCVI. 

TO MRS DUNLOP. 

EUhlanJ, lOtli April, 1790. 
now, my ever-honoured friend 
, in reading a pape 



. Rambler, 



ih-ed t 



i..d World: 

60 thoroughly and enlirefy English. Alas! 
have 1 ofier- said to myself, what are all the 
boasted advantages which my country reaps 
from the Union, that can counterbalance the 
annihilation of her independence, and even her 

ZL^TlL. 1 ^'"fr* that c " u * letof m -J 



lislory of nat.ons, 

blest men that e 
Earl of Cheeuafie] 
ould thoroughly c 



ot society, 

car or a good heart. 

Mirror and Lounger for the G rst time, and I 
am quite in raptures with them : X should be 
glad lo have your opinion of some of the papers. 
The one 1 have just read, Lounger, No. bl, 
has cost me more honest tears than any thing 
X have read of a lor.g time. M'Kenz.e has 



saw. From what 



**— Slates of native liberty possess 'd, volence ; in short, more of all that ennoblt 

Though very poor, may yet be very blest. " I the soul to herself, or endears her to o'bers.. 



thai: from the simple affect! 



EUH.N5.-i,E 



Do not you think, madam, that among the few 
favoured of Heaven in the structure of their 

be n purity, a tenderness, a dignity, an t i .- n ■'■ 
of soul, which are of no use, nay , in some de- 
gree, absolutely disqualifying for the truly 
important business oi ,n :,, .- a man's way into 
life. If I am not much mistaken, my gallant 
young friend, A , is very much under 

male" of 'a 't . n, weTl'may 

they excite parental solicitude, for I, a common 

rriend,"™ "fienTembled for a' turn 
of mind which may render them eminently 
happy -or peculiarly miserable ! 

lately ; but as I have got the most hurried 



No. XCVIL 
FROM MR CUNNINGHAM. 

Edinburgh, 25tft May, 179C 



of a consumption. Alas! that so much 0™ 

bud. Her'a was the smifeof cheerfulness- 

of manners corresnonded with the purity 
elevation of her mind. 

How does your friendly muse ? I am s 
she still retains her affection for you, and 1 



ITERS. 133 

No. XCIX. 
TO DR MOORE. 
Dumfries, Excise-Office, lithjuly, 17S0. 



iwd this 



;t\v?th ^gentlerr 



ion-dayTl 



ir froi 



you. Ibesi 



I wea: 



it sincerely hope all yonr con 
; of good health. All your frie 



"When yon meet with my very agreeable 
friend, J. Syme, give him for me a b 
squeeze, and bid God bless him. 

Is there any probability of your being 
in Edinburgh ? 



snatches of leisure through the day, amid our 
horrid business and bustle, and I shall improve 
them as well as I can ; but let my letter be as 



ux, or as unsightly a scrawl as Betty Byre- 

U put you to no expense of postage, I shall 

ve the less reflection about it. 

I am sadly ungrateful ra not returning you 



planned a comparative view of you, Fielding, 
Richardson, and Smollet, in your different 
qualities and merits as novel-writers. This, I 

probably ne'ver bring the business to bear; but 
I am fond of the spirit young Elihu shows in 



Though I shall hardly think of fairly writ- 
ing out my "Comparative View," I shall 

as they are. I have just received from mv 

That time shall be no 



ore!" 



collection of Sonne 
itry in them. If in 



not, as I rather suspect, to a celebrated author 
of the other sex, I should certainly have writ- 
ten to the lady, with my grateful acknowledg- 

excellence of her pieces. I would do this last, 
not from any vanity of thinking that my re- 
marks could be of much consequence to Mrs 
Smith, but merely from my own feelings as an 
author, doing as I would be done by. 



No. XC1X. 
TO MRS DTJNLOP. 

nBAR madam, Sth Auzust, 1790. 

After a long day *« toil, plague, and care, I 

hurry, indolence, and hf'j oilier •hii. S r»7 in 

plus aimatiUr de con sro-e. By the bye, yo 
indebted tour beet courtesy to me ft this last 

li n'uf its truth—a qual.t. rather rare .n 

pi ments uf these gnun.ng, bowing, scrap. ng 

Well, I hope writing to you, will ease 



No. a 

TO .MR CUNNINGHAM. 

EUUland, 8th August, 1790. 
Forgire me, my once dear, and ever dea 
friend, my seeming i egligence. You cannt 
tit duwn, and fancy the busy life I lead. 

I laid down my goose feather to beat m w 
brains for an apt simile, ana had some thoughts 
of a country granuam at a family christening : 
a bride ou the market day bctore ber marriage ; 

a tavern-keeper at an election dinner, &c. tie. 
is, that black; u a J miscreant, Satan,' who 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

world a puling infant as thou didsf, and moel 









" Thy spirit. Independence, let me share ; 

Lord of the lion heart, and eagle-eye! 
Thy si^ps I follow with my bosom bare. 

Nor heed the storm that howls along the 



these noble verses ? They are the 
in of Smoiut't Ode to Indepetidtno; : 
ve not seen the poem. I will send it 
low wretched is the man that hangs 



e formed as thou art — and peri 



No. CI. 

FROM DR BLACKLOCK. 

Edinburgk, \sl September, 1790. 
How does my dear friend ? — much I languisl 






l km 



o proceed, 



'to set forth ; 
A work miscellaneous, extensive, and free. 
Which will weekly appear, by the name of the 

imself I inclose you a plan. 



» !«» 



Entangled 



will giv. 

b business, and haunted w 

i or less human nature m 



lhe Bee, which tucks houey from ev'ry gay 

With some rays of your genius her work may 

Whilst the (lower whence her honey sponta- 
neously Hows, 
As fragrantly smells, and as vig'rously grows. 



Devoted cold death's and longevity 'a pie; 
From %erses tho' languid my thoughts' 



* The preceding letter explains the feelings 
under which this was written. The strain of 
indignant Invective goes on some lime longer 

dalge, and of which the reader has already 
seen so much. 



BURNS LETTERS. 

elegant, but not a 



FROM MR CUNNINGHAM. 






:e of "the days of other jea 



fellow than I, extern- 

erses. See the poem— On the Birth of a. Post- 
.umous ChLd. 

I am much flattered by your approbation of 
ny Tarn o' Shunter, which you express in 
o'ur former letter, though, by the bye, you 
oad me in that said letter with accusations 

;uiUyi Your boo'k is, I hear, on the road to 

)repare it for the press, you have only to spell 
t right, and place the capital letters properly ; 

bemselves. 

I have a copy of Tarn, o' Shanler ready to 
end jou by the first opportunity: it is too 

Mr Corbet lately. He, in conse- 
[uence of your recommendation, is most zeal- 
!us to serve me. Please favour me soon with 
in account of your good folks ; if Mrs H. is 
ecovering, and the young gentleman doing 
veil. 



10 far as I know, « v rop:r 



it the hill cf Pamassu 
onuet in your pocket f 
my suggestions, ,f I 



:rity, then am I not thy 

Faithful friend, &c 

No. CIII. 
TO MRS DUNXOP. 

November, 1790 
i waters to a thirsty scul, so is g, 
m a far country. " 
as long owed me a letter of good m 



No. CIT. 
TO MR CUNNINGHAM. 

EUidani, 83d January, 1791. 

Many happy returns of the season to you, my 



r'lrvi.il': 



ofU-ii.g! 



Miss £0016". I have got, and can get, no 





- 




— 


literally 


£ 


ably ne 


o\» 


-' 


in my 1 




etl" 




J 


of Null, 






eompHshed Burne 



As by his noblest work the Godhead best is 

In -rain ye flaunt in summer's pride, ye groves ; 
Thou crystal streamlet, with thy flowery 



IHA.VOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



reruggeT^ilko'Vbarieing'di 
Tojoulfly, jewitUmysou 

Shall venal lays their pmnpo 



No. CV. 

TO MR FETEB HILL. 

1 7th January, 1791. 
'tke these t wo guin eao. and place them ov< 

as gagged my mouih these live or six months 
can as tittle wiite good things t.s apotogic 

fli've! Not alt tbe'lnbomTor Hercules";" u! 
lithe Hebrews' three centuries of Egyplia 
oi.dage were such an insuperable bus:ue« 

ucli on task ! ! Poverty • thou hall 

liter of death, thou cousin gertnan of hell 
here shall I find force of execration equal t 



t of Mammon 
lied, Opprci 



family of worth t! 



f family ntnl fortu: e. Hit 



follies and extravagance, are spirit and fire ; 
of an honest fellow; and when, to remedy the 



Ihecoron 




guilty 










s to plead, riots nightly in tl 




guilty tra 






Well, 


divines may say of it wb 


t they 


please, I 







No. CVI. 
FROM A- V. TYTLKR, ESQ. 

Edinburgh, V2th March, 1701. 

Mr Hill yesterday put into my hands a shee. 
of Gro&c's Ant. (;r,((< ?, containing a poem of 

wry high pleasure I have received from the 
peiusal of this admirable piece, I feel, demands 

' 'edgmento. Hill tells tne 

. icketjor you this day; I 
therelore putting ou paper what 



I n.ust have 
with you after the rece 
which is, that I feel 1 
rged. wouh 



, had I D 
of your ta 



iived from this coim 



your name down to posterity with high repu- 
tation. In the introductory part, where you 



e of more horrible fancy than the 



' Coffins stood round [i 
That showed the deat 
And by some devilish 



' A knife a father's throat had mangled, 
Whom his aiu son of life bereft: 
The grey hairc yet sluck to (Ac ht/l. ' 



—LETTERS. 
s, : trophe, for t 



the effect of hei 
dance, on Satat 
"Ah, little thouf 
the transport of Ti 



adequate. But for I 




s, you have a 


good apology -you s 






And now that I ha 


fMe'weIg 




feel a little relieved c 


ht of that delt 






ultory scroll by 




ve proved 




a species of couiposi 






few of our own poe 




ceeded_Go on 






me style; you 


will eclipse Prior an 


i La Font. 


ine ; for, with 


equal wit, equal pow 






naivete of expression 


yon Lav 


a bolder, and 



No. CV1I. 
TO A. F. TYTLER, ESQ. 



grateful acknowledgments for your 1, 
own favourite poem, and that an i 
walk of the muses entirelv new to hi 



strings of a poor poet. However, providenc 



or. As this is the first • 



r, I find myself unable 



u for this additional in 



detected in the piece, they are truly there: one 
of them, the hit at the lawyer and priest, I 



as to bear any kind of e 
ing you how cinch I ha 



No. cvin. 

TO MRS DUNLOP. 



Ellisland, 1 '(A February, ]791. 



good an apology'for my seemingly ungratslul 
ts.knce. I am now getting better, and am able 
to rhyme a littl-. which im; 'A, some tolerable 

° I do not remember if ever I mentioned to 
ycu my having an idea of composing an elegy 
on the late Miss Burnet of Monboddo. 1 had 
the honour of being pretty well acquainted 

loss of an acquaintance, as when I heard that 
so amiable and accomplished a piece of God's 
works was no more. 1 have as yet gone no 
farther than the following fragment, of which 



prey to gr.ef a: 
Bt yon aged tree 



is now seventeen months old, has thesmall-pos 
lam truly happy to hear that the "little 



drooping head, " Soon and well may her "cruel 
wounds" be healed! I have written thus Tar 
with a good deal of difficulty. When I get a 
little abler you shall hear farther from, 

Madam, yours, &c 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



No. CIX. 
TO LADY W. M. CONSTABLE, 



I unlucky accident of 



lad.vs.liip s elegant presen 
retbrn ug jou my warme 
a.-luowledgiiienls. Ilss 
shall set it apart; tiiesyn 



No. CXL 
PROM THE REV. G. BAIRD. 

SIR, London, Sth February, 1791. 

trouble you with this letter, to inform you 
iat 1 am in hopes of being able very soon to 
ring to the press a new edition (long since 
liked of) of Michael Brace's Poeme. 1 he 
routs of the edition are to go to his mother— 
i of eighty years of age— poor and 



elplcss 

ul.-cnpii. 



nay be possiL 



heli.ivv wishof leiievolencelur the happiness 
of others, 1 -.hall recollect y.iur ladyship; 



No. CX. 
MRS GRAHAM OF FINTRY. 



poetic so. 


allad, su 
cess, 1 ki 




•" 




ha!Tplea!ied 


w'h.uT'a', 


























you. It 








jrilv ot my 






UspeC. 








aud Pi „ha 


ebted to 


Mr U 








in she ub 




^7 




, is of inli- 


Evk/ff 


ater impo 




.Mr 




CBfl do me 


















i p. or 










^ioi.aiiv 








one than I 




1 know 




















lb. that my 


poetry «i 


1 coi.Jide 
ut any fu 

= e an.l'alh 


ally ot 

-l. anal 




';u 


.of sp.r .; i 
t fce no or 



that 1 was born to d 


It ,s no 


not only with the k 


o"f T gen 



l kno 



a few lines by jou will 
f this request. — It is 



that though you see it proper 

will see my apology in the inoMr. 

-May I just add, that Michael Bruce is one 
in whose company, from his past appearance, 
you would not, 1 am convinced, blush to be 
found; mil as I would submit every line of 
his that should now be published, to your own 

muted iu that appearance he may make in 
You have already paid an honourable tri- 



1 trust you will agree to do— to furnish, 

poini u= in procuring that relief to the mother, 

>u will be pleased io address for me under 
', to the Uukeof Athole, Loudon. 



P. S — Have you ever seen an engraving 
poems, ' ' O thou pale Orb, ' ' If you have 






not. I shall have the pleasure of sending it t 



No. CXII. 
THE REV. G. BAIKD, 



mentj, I should have directly put yon out c 
suspense on the subject. 1 only ask, tht 
some piefatory advertisement, in the book, a 
■well as he subscription bills, may b<*ir, tin 
the publication is solely for the benefit < 
Bruce 's mother. I would not put it in th 
power of ignorance to surmise, or malice t 
insinuate, that I clubbed a share in the wor 



1 to do any good that occi 
ed power to a fellow-crea 
Ifisb purpose of clearing a 



No. cxm. 

TO DR MOORE. 



ill e 






TheEle.y 




the 




v of 




in this 


the 




s after 


;;:.. 



Whether, after all, either the one or the o 
be of any real service to the dead, is, I f 
very problematical ; but I am sure they 
highly gratifying to the living: and as a • 



t. I fore 






ety, and is of positive enjoyment, is of God, 
te giver of all good things, and ought to be 
■ceived and enjoyed by his creatures with 



fully pleased with the idea, that I can still 
keep up a tender intercourse with the dearly 
beloved friend, or still more dearly beloved 
mistress, who is gone to the world of spirits. 

The ballad on Queen Mary was begun while 
I was busy with Percy's Cliques of English. 
Poetry. By the way, how much is every 

nian prejudice., obliged to you for your glorious 

proof of you 









lows ! if I 



s on7af\'nei t :J, 
ionaUty,asthetail 



>IAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Written on the blank leaf of a book, which I the 
presented to a very young lady, whom 1 had publ 
formerly characterised uuder the denomination moti 



of The Rase-b-Mi. 



No. CXIV. 
FROM 1)11 JICORE. 
SIR, London, 29.'A JfarcA, 1791. 



cularU admire are the three striking similes 

" Or like the snow falls in the river," 

and the eight lines which begin with 

"By this time he was cross the ford ;" 

so exquisitely expressive of the superstitious 
imprc-soas of the country. And the twenty- 

•' Coffins stood round like open presses, " 

which, in my opinion, are equal to the ingre- 
dients of Shakspeare's cauldron in Macbeth. 

A, for the Elegy, tbe chief merit of it con- 
sists in tbe very graphical description of theob- 

wrile;, and which none but n Scoltish poet 



described. 

There is s 
derfully plea 



server of Nature, c 

letbint? orig'nil, an 



hinted before, what 
on tbe margin. 1 



me, sincerely I value your opinion very hijjhly, 
and pray do not suppress one of those in which 
you censure the sentiment or expression. 

I must now mention what has been on my 
mind for some time : I cannot help thinking 

copies of vour verses. It is most natural to 
give a few' to confidential friends, particularly 



r power, I would baTe you 
will exert myself wi;h plea- 



In your future compositions, I wish you 
would use the modem English. You hi»e 
shown vour powers in Scottish sufficiently. 
Although in certain subjects it gives additional 



hour,' 
things . 
go to Scotland, I will let you ki 

Mrs Hamilton' 



ie,s: and I do not know that I 
bbled all this to jou, but for 
, that is, to instigate jou to a 
; and lo.ell you tbat when you 
i sufficient number to moke a 
uld set your friends on getting 
I wish I could have a few 
lion with you— I hove many 



t». If I e 
that you 
ni) friend 

Adieu, my dear Sir, fc». 



No. CXV. 
TO THE REV. ARCHD. ALISON. 
EUitltmd, near Dumfries, 14(A Feb. 1791, 



as acknowledged 
you yourself are t 






fur-ooih a deep learned dig* 
ihebotk, I did not even Ju 



BURNS L ETTER 5". 



ce of style, sounds something like a 
tion in terms ; but you have convinced 
hey are quite compatible. 
;e yon some pontic bagatelles of my 

be wayoflelling a tale. 

lam, Sir, &c. 



TO MR CUNNINGHAM. 

12lh March, 1791. 
le ha*e them. For my own part, a thin 






well as the former. 

You mu»t k ow a beautiful Jacobite air 
Tir're' i « rer be peace til Jamie comes h.ame 
■When political combustion ceases to be the ob 
iect of princes and patriots, it then, you know 
Leoomes the lawful prey of historians an. 



e close of the day, 






If you like the air, and if the stanzas hit 
our fancy, your canr.or imagine, my dear 
liend, how :i. _e me, if, by 

ive my honest effusion to •• the' memory"^ 
,ys that are past." to the few friends whom 
on indulge in that pleasure. But I have 
cribbled on till I hear the clock has intimated 
he near approach of 
•That hour o' night's biack arch the key. 



and delectable yoi:r dreams! Apro 
vou like this thought in a ballad, 
now on the tapis ? 



Good night, once more, and God bless you ! 

No. CXVII. 

TO MRS DUNLOP. 

Wlhland, Ulh April, 1791. 
I am once more able, my honoured friend, t, 

renin. ;.,.., null ,m nv.n hand, thanks f,T ill 



-s Burns made me l 






• to be 0.7 



'Tis true, both the one and the other discover 
a spice of roguish waggery, that might, per- 

show, in my opinion, a force of genius, and"a 
finishing polish, that I despair of ever excell- 
ing. -Mrs Burns is getting stout again, and 

culiar privilege and Messing of our hale, 

world i'n the'more' elevated stations of life, and 
which is certainly by far the most bewitching 



.1 the ly ,1 



There'll never be peace (ill Jamie comes 1 

M> seven braw sons for Jamie drew swor 

DO y"rdr ree r ° UU 
It brack ihe sweet heart o' my faithfu' 

dame— 
There'll never be peace till Jamie comes 1 

Bj.t 'till my last moment my words are the ; with 1 

same— a figui 

Tlcre'U never be peace till Jamie comes hame. ' of life 



lv sood ! But as this ange 
afraid, extremely rare in e 
of life, and totally deniet 



fected modesty, I 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



ig advice. to be a 
using in tne pride of his iu- 
id the solitary wild? of his de»- 
i in civilized life, helplessly to 



nih of heart, gralel 
ardently glowing v 



of lovely woman in mj bumble w Ik ol lif 
This is the greatest effort my Lroken arn 

pox. Way Almighty Goodness preserve 



No. CXVIII. 
TO MR CUNNINGHAM. 



this. He i, a .Mr Clarke of .Wlal, principa 

powerful individuals of hie employers, lie u 

placed under b.s care. Clod help the leacber, 

my Irieud Clarke, when a bo b, lather pro. 
tents In in with his Looln son, and ulsisuj or 
ligh.ng 



:>kui:-; 



'■■'!""" 



Yours of iwpieij lo alien, pt making a sell.. I 
of, as he Las been marked a b.ockhcad in tl 



The pall 


ns of Modal scho 


ters, magi. 


rates, and 




Lui-h, .....i 








- 




thing ,,, l.,s 






man Ol ge. 






particular^ 






»t» good 


eluwa amo 




tio-.iurlj, j 


u iiav'e in 




rend gentle 






of being lery nearly re 





pui ii in my power, always Irom mjself, and 
of myself, to hear the consequences of those 
errors. I do not want to be independent that 
1 may sin, but I want lo he independent iu my 
sinning. 

To return in this rambling letter to the sub- 
ject I sel out with, lei me recommend my 

Kood orlices ; h,s north entitle:, l.im to theone, 

long much to hear from you. Adieu. 



X. CXiX. 
FROM THE EARL OF BUCHAN. 
A June. 1731. 



the near 
dering al 
purep..r, 



tronage. I know the merits of Ihe cause 
thoroughly, and say it, that my friend is ' " 



I hnds Lord Uuchau sitting 
uins ot Llrj burgh. lhere the com- 
r will give him a hearty welcome, and 
lit his lamp al the puie Maine of nativo 

t.cal perambulation ol the 1 weed, is a 
of the late Sir Gilbert Elliot's and of 
nto's, fallowed out by his accomplish- 

been" with Lord Buchan lately, the 
.aa renewed, and will, they hope, be 
in ihe wanner proposed. 



No. CXX 
TO THE EARL OF BUCHAN. 



BURNS — LETTERS. 



Thomson. In my firsl enthusiasm in reading 
the card you did ine the honour to write me, I 



the shade of the b 



ae memory of Thomson 
d the way of address t. 



task. However, it affords me ai 
of approaching your lordship, a 
how sincerely and gratefully I ha' 



No. CXX1. 

FROM THE SAME. 

Drybursh Abbey, IS/A September, 1791. 



Your Halloween, and Saturday Kighl. will 
rema n lo distant posterity as interesting pic- 
tures of rural innocence and happiness in .our 
native country, and were happily winten in 
the dialect of the people ; but Hanoi Home 
being suited to aescriptive poetry, except 

of expression. Without the assistance J an';. 
god or goddess, and without the invocation or 
any foreign muse, you may convey in epistolary 
form the description of a scene so gladdening 
and picturesque, with all the concomitant 

Casting the peace, improvement, an 

Itritain, with their former oppression and 

colours', the 'a rural" lift 

And as the unvitiated heart is naturally dis- 
posed to overtlow in gratitude in the moment 
of prosperity, such a subject would furnish you 

the name of Glen c! ,1 r rd your other 
poems and letters, will not deviate from the 



No. cxxn. 

TO LADY E. CUNNINGHAM. 

I would, as usual, have availed myself of the 
privilege your goodness has allowed me, of 

sending you any thing I compose in my poeti- 






my children, I shall have a son thai 
leart. he shall hand It down to his child 

existence I 'one to the noble 'house oi 

is about to say, my lady, that if you 



No. CXXIIL 
TO MR AINSLIE. 

i the horrors of penitence 
lead ache, nausea, and all 
- hounds of hell, that Lese 
vho has been guilty of ih 



the face, every one telling a more 

tban his fellow When I tell you e 

has lost its power to please, you 
something of mv hell within, and 

me I t-;ran hVbar.!; K ,.na L.ibrc, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



1 guesi 



round 



from 



u old let 



? Aproposi for conr.e 



ght of 
yours, loailaj by 

vVll_I begin to 
an to write you. 

intlL do 



whence I am just returned. Your letter wi 
forwarded to me there from Edinburgh , when 

lays. This was an additional reason for n 
o have answered it immediately on receivin 
t ; but the truth was, the bustle of businesi 
ngagements and confusion of one kind or at 
tber, in whiclt I found myself immersed a 
he lime I was in London, absolutely put 
ut of my power. But to have clone with epi 
ngies, let me now endeavour to prove myse 
n some degree deserving of the very (latterin 
ompliment you pay me, by giving you nt lea 



I have one or two good fellows here whor 
you would be glad to knew. 

No. CXXIV. 
FROM SIR JulIN "WHITEKOORD. 
AVar Maybole, \6lh October, 17D1. 
Sin, 
Art-opt of my thnnks for your favour with the 
Lament on the denth of my much este —' 
fliend, ,.ud your worthy patron, the p.ru 



" The bands g 



1 ' Tho* Fate said a hero shot 

to up rose bright Phojbi 

the knight." 



lid perish in light. 



place, you arc singularly Loppy in 

ie delicacy of the panegyric which 
tsono-, perfectly appropriate to his 
r, is peculiarly fine. In short, this 



As to The Lament, 1 
expressions in your letter 

this piece than of the other, and lo«n I tlj 






ie fifth, 



hough i 

ie first. "The 



;" the thirteenth, " Awake thy last sad 

e, and inferior to several of tbot-e you 
already publibhed in the same strain. iWy 
principal objection lies Dgainst (he plan of the 






n in the" 



uih of 






FROM A. F. TYTLER, ESQ. 

Edinburgh, 21th Kov. 1791. 



eab'.e packet, containing TheWkia 
j and Th£ Lamrtd; which read 
t six weeks ago in, London, from 



in i.'.e language of nature rather than that 
:licn on the subject. Compare this with 
your poem of the same title in your printed 
volume, which begins, Uicu. jmle Orb 1 and 
1 : what it is that forms the charm of that 

iiion. It is that it speaks the language 
i and of nature. The change is, in my 
i, injudicious too in this respect, that an 
rd has much less need of a patron and 
>T than a yovng one. I have thus given 



HUUNS.— LETTERS. 



yon, with much freedom, my opinion of both 

It will give me great pleasure to hear from 
you when you tind leisure, and I beg you will 
beli=ve me ever, dear sir, yours, &c. 



No. CXXVI. 
TO MISS DAYIES. 



under which I unhappily must rank as the 

crest, and rouses all her snakes ; beneath the 
deadly fixed eye and leaden hand of indolence, 
their wildest ire is charmed into the torpor of 

the bat, slumbering out the rigours of w : 

in the chink of a ruined wall. Nothing 



er the subject of a silly ballad, 
mockery of these ardent feel- 
au impertinent jest to a dying 



that crosses the paihless desert ? In my -walks 
of life I have met with a few people to whom 
how gladly would I have said-" Go, be hap- 
py ! I know that your hearts have been 

cident has placed above you -or worse still, in 

rock, Independence, and look justly down on 
their littleness of soul. Make the worthless 



Why, dear madam, must I wake from this 
delightful reverie, and find it all a dream ? 
Why, amid my generous enthusiasm, must I 
find myself poor and powerless, incapable of 
wiping one tear from the eye of pity, or of ad- 
ding one comfort to the friend Hove! -Out 



i ; ; 


ai 


. i 


I. 


rii? 


efu 


;,' 


-good 


" 


lat 


re 




V.vllid 


1 " 


-•; 


among 


: h 


3, 


tefy 

L.dy 


ll.r 


' ■ '' 


l 


T 


ce has 

!d tiiev 



But the hand that could give I would libe- 
rally fill; and I would pour delight on the 
heart that could kindly forgive, and generously 



ciuu- ui-tiuctions of fortune. Woman is the 
blood-royal of life : let there be slight degrees 



No. CXXVIL 

TO MRS DUNLOP. 

Ellisltmd, 17th December, 178]. 
Many thanks to you, madam, for your good 
lews respecting the little floweret and the 



neither preface nor apology. 

Scene,— Afield of baWe-time of Ike day, even. 

■-- ■■.'.;•...■■ - - ■■■ 

army are svpposcd to join m thefcllmcing 

SONG OF DEATH. 

Farewell, thou fair day, thou green earth, and 



m king of terrors, thou life's gloomy 
; nten 
know, 

Thou strik'st the poor peasant—he sinks in tha 

Nor saves e'en the wreck of a name : 
Thou strik'st the young hero_a glorious 

He falls in'the blaze of his fame J 

In the field of proud honour — our swords in 



116 



DIAMOND CABINET LIDRARY. 



The circumstance that gave rise to the fore- 
going verses was, looking over, with a musica 
friend, M 'Donald's colleclion of Highlant 
airs ; I was struck with one, an Isle of Skv< 
tune, entitled Orau an Aoig, or, The Song of 
Death, to the measure of which 1 have adapted 
my stanzas. I have of late composed two 
three other little pieces, which ere von fi 

stares at old* mother e, 

shrunk into a modest crescent, just peepii 
forth at dewy dawn, I shall find an hour 
transcribe for you. A Dicuje vous commend 



No. CXXVIII. 

TO JJRS DUNLOP. 

Slh January, 1792. 
see my hurried life, madam ; I can on 
land starts of time ; however, I am gh 
le tnjit; ; since I finished the other shee 



irter. Now, 
ril be let loose 

,- n„,s. iVrs,,, 






lW"\l ' '. ,'o,' n r r ° d°'V/rant'in 1 = 



Dumfries, 22d January, 1792. 
it down, my dear Sir, to introduce^ young 



no more for the herd of 




call- 


1 young • 




for 




1 of. 




called young genii 


men. To 




vho de- 


spise and detest th 


gro 


- 






tions of fashion, as 


















unpriul 


while men of sense 


fort 


hrTestV 


1 his 


« J:=i! 


thrown in the dirnn 




shades. 




Riddel, 








with 


her and 












own wa >. as a ua< 


irali 


t and a 


pl.il 


asop'her, 



The lady too is a votary of the muses ; and as 
I think myself somewhat of a judge in my owu 



in of the lady-poetess 



.;ds '» u.eriis, she has one ui.luck) failing, a 
ailing which you will easily discover, as she 
Lcms rather p!.ja = id •..ill. indulfn.:: in it ; and 



mke no m 

I will nc 
vnpliment 



on the judgment of a fool, but that, up 

re nie'n'ofletters shall say, Heretics a 
did honour to science 1 and men of w 
I say, Here lies a man who did honot 



No. CXXX. 
TO MR W. NICOL. 

201A February, 1792. 

■ : Hon ii.ln.iif'.r h 
:h; pudoie- headed, rattle-headed, nrong-heail- 



BURNS—LETTERS. 



ed, round-headed slave indebted 
eminent goodness, that from the ! 
of thy own right-lined rectitude, 
: benignly down on an erring wrei 
(lie zig zag-wanderings defy all the powers of 

ug, to th"e : 



llbes 



CC"U.- 



on 


feebl 


ray of tha 


light of wisd 






ta from thy sensor 




the 


of 


leaven 


.and brigh 


as the meteor 


fin 










i" 


,,r'r.f 


^li£ 


face and favo 
1 master of ma. 


'.in; 






if folly, a^d 










and 'witty 


Willie Nicol 


A 


Am'ent Yea, so be "i 






Form 


! I am a b 










From the 


cave of my 






id the 


fogs of my 


dulness, and 






my political 


heresies I look 




l( 


doth a 


toad throug 


h the iror.-barr 


less 


of 


i summer sun! So 








I, Is 








n of the wise, an 






dt. 


ighto< 


f the godly, 


ike the illustri 


A 


L 


= i'>~-' 


many hills 


f* As for him 


d;5 



lord of 

njol 
the bolt 



frc m 






tion of thy intellectual powt: 
— As for thee, thy thoughts are pure, and t 
lips are holy. Never did the unhallow 
breath of the powers of darkness, and I 
pleasures of darkness, pollute the sacred fla: 

never did the vapours of impurity stain the i 



like thine the t 



e the - 



of my Iif, 



lust own with too much appearance of truth. 
Apropos, do you know the much admired 
• ' Highland air called The Sulor's Dccklerl 



q of Lude, i 



:ulated, as the heralds 
have invented arms for n 
.hall be chief of the nam, 
Scotland, will likewise t 



ierewill 



fs'eotluchVbust 
'ft," at all; "out I 



.tend having 
[ am a bit of a herald ; and shall 

holly bush, seeded, proper, iu 



i of the ( 



! shield, in the 1 



"-■ '^: 






afraid May thy pity and ihy prayer be 

cised for, O thou lamp of wisdom and n 
of morality 1 thy de\oted slave, f- 



No. CXXXL 
TO MR CUNNINGHAM. 



man* ueaven, l reel my spirits ouoying up- 

in good earnest take up Thomson's songs. I 
daresay he thinks I have used him unkindly, and 



* Mr Nicol. 
+ This strain of irony was excited 
cf .Mr Nicoi'i] containing good advic 



tie/4 By tl 
pipe and crook I do not mean the nonsense of 
painters of Arcadia ; but a Stock and Horn, and 
a Cluf; such as you see at the head of Allan 
Ramsay, in Allan's quarto edition of the Gen- 
tle Shepherd. By the bye, do you know Allan ? 
He must be a man of very great genius. Why 
is he not more known f Has he no patrons ? 

and but once, got a glance of that noble edition 
pastoral in the world, and dear as 
n dear as to my pocket, I would 



of ihe m 






engraved fc 



ne. What. 

in riches, the 



has hit genu 



i only. He 



No. exxxn. 

TO MRS CUN10P. 

an Mate- Fat, 22i August. 1792. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



hing and reproving my v 

ush me sufficiently. 



of, now, old ocquaii 



Apro 




</> 


,ugl. 


ow i 


ib apropos, 1 1 








plan.. 


)do ;, 










,m''u 
















head a 






deep a 


*li.t' 




abvsso 




■ U 






love, 




e 






minglcdoms of 




dlhe 1 




pure 


■id ihe impure 


•liis tra 


rid. 


be. 






equivocal term 


expres 


ing 












i jo 














Ki 


•JSS 111 


n, ih 


t Ibe h.-art-slr 



we should have in gazing upon and h-lei.ing 
to a Messenger of Heaven, appearing iu all (he 
unspoiled purily of his cele»lial home, ar 
the coarse, polluled, far inferior sous of 



eliglitmg, and w. pure, 
. soul on meeting th< 

leighboui 



ir of calling on me; 
torse (though God 



in my plaidie," &c. 



I regret that you 
,, a, I am to be in A 
bt. Ihia world of ou 
many good thing, in 



, must make the experi 



b... pier 



f relig.oi 

, that J 



only nee 



ball take 



lu're ihat shall call me father, shall be taught 

Id place of the world, in ike 'internals o 
jur of discharging a >essel of rum frou 

No. exxxin. 

TO MR CUNNINGHAM. . 
Dumfries, 10m September, 1792. 



wheels of the excU< 



three people who v 
ofteaer they met tog( 



making ballads, and lb 
n.g ibe press-work of t\ 



o. 1 migb 




i, bis m.r 


iage ; or I 


he Caledoi 




ve done me 


(though to 


mended to 




had done b 




here is to 


your good 



might have done, as 1 di 



do myself justice, 1 

boih in rhyme, else I 

now). Well, then, 

health ! for you mu.t know, I have set a nip- 

perkin of toddy by me, just by way of spell, 

to keep away the ineikle horned Deil, or any of 

hi9 subaltern imps who may be on iheir nightly 

But what shall I write to you ? "The Toice 
said, Cry" and I said," What shall I cry :" 
— O, thou sprit! whatever thou art, or 
wherever thou makest thyselt visible 1 te thou 
a bogle by the eerie side of an auld thorn, in 
the dreary glen through which ihe herd callan 
maun bicker in his gloamm route frae the 
faulde! Be thou a brownie, set, at dead of 
night, lo thy task b> the blazing ingle, or in 

thy iron flail half affright tn\se!f, as thuu per- 
formed the work of twenty of the sons of men, 
ere ihe cock-crowing summon thee to thy ample 
cog of substantial brose.— Be thou a kelpie, 
haunting the ford or ferry, in the starless night, 
mixing thy laughing yell with the howling of 
tbc storm, and the roaring of th« llocd, as Lhou 



viewest the perils ar.d 
foundering" '— 
Or, lastly 



BURNS — LETTERS, 
f man on the godly m 



performing thy mystic rites in 1 



nsed Deity ! — Come, tl 
ese horrid form, ; cor 

und the wig of a pra't 

ring gossip, win 



run at the light-horse gallop of clishn 
who is quite jaded in the attempt to shi 



ings of school divinity, who, 1. 



linger-post in the 
daserous paths of 
sightless soar- 



ihe bottom of he 



of mortals! ! 


!"— O 






e! co 


11 fu 










r.dec 




of 




and da 


-;■ 








i, ye 


lleasure^ and 


night J 




"{ 


,s„ 


r.n 


lured 


housaiid that 








i'l mel 








las, the 






nee of 


!ii = 








afli 










teen hundred^ 


llou^nd 


t J 


"" 


bj ih 


E d 8 


u,;!c'a 


eternally i'n th 














But of all Nonsense 


K 




ous N 


nse 


rise is 



Only, by the bye, 



e married life? Ah my fr end ! matrimony 
quite a different thing trom v. hat your love- 
sick jomhs ami sighing girls take it to be! 



of the conjugal state- (t;i passant, jou know 
from jugum, a joke?) Well, then, tlie scale 
Goouna'u-p, our: Good ser.se, two; V\ii,one; 



hese minor properties must be expressed by 
ractumz, for ihere is not auv one ol theui, in 
he aloresaid scale, entitled to the dignity of 

As for the rest of my fancies and reveries- 
low 1 lately met with Miss L B , 

he most beautiful, elegant woman in the 
■vorld- how 1 accompanied her and her 
lather's family hfteen miles on their journey, 
nut of pure devotion, to admire the loveliness 
)f the works of (Jod, in such an unequalled 



The very Beil, he could na scaith 
And say, «' I canna wrang thee. '• 



-behold all these things are written In the 
ihronicles of my imagination, and shall be 
ead by thee, my dear friend, and by thy be- 






has alw 



ingham, 

IjSl 

•Tj r°hey U marb'e Ze jusr ; nay, I 

'moTamongtheir'feflowci 
PSlrii snuffing putrescence, 
, in short, with a conce 

any other of your Scottish 

ntaUymbfan 



dignity that jot 



in my plough-boy days, I could not conceii 
possible that a noble lord could be a foo'., i 



DIAMOND CAEIXET LIBRARY. 



No. CXXXIV. 

TO MRS DUNLOP. 

Dumfries, 2ilh September, 1792. 
1 have this moment.my dear madam, jours of the 
twenty-third. All your other kind reproaches, 
your news, &c are out of my head when I 
read and think on Mrs H 's situation. 

woman-inastran-e, foreign land, °a no thai 
lana convulsed with every horror that can 
harrow the human feelings— sick— looking, 

much: he who wounded (he only can), may 

I wish the farmer great joy of his new ac- 
quisition to his family 

1 cannot «u that I give him joy of his life as a 

laird farming his own property ; sowing his 
o«n corn in hope ; and reaping it, in spile of 
brittle weather, in gladness; knowing that 
uone can say unto him, "what dost thou?" 
—fattening his herds ; shearing his flocks ; 

daughters, until he be the vener-ted, grey- 
Well, your kind wishes will be gratified, as 
to seeing me when 1 make my Ayrshire visit. 

I cannot leave Mrs B until her nine 

months' race is run, which may, perhaps, be in 
three or four weeks. She, loo, seems deter- 
mined to make me the patriarchal leader of a 
band. However, if fieav en « ill be so obliging 
as let me have them on the proportion of three 

pleased. 1 hope, if I am spared with them, 
cares and name: but I am not equal to the 
a girl shot... ,.e. Apropos, 

is a very deviL He, though two years 



* This much- lamented lady was gone to th< 
•orjth of France with her infant sou, where sh< 
died soon after. 



No. CXXXV. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 



, and did not r 



nheTfainily. the/ ha'vTmot'ters"' 
iVimpor'tantTanne?,' of which tl 






Alas, madam 1 who wonld wish for many 

our joys gradually expire and leave us in a 
night at misery; like the gloom which blots 



No. CXXXVI. 

TO MRS DUNLOP. 

Dumfries, 6th December, 1792. 
I shall be iu Ayrshire, I think, next week; 
and if at all possible, I shall certainly, my 



and yet I scarcely look over the obituary 
newspaper, that I do not see some names 



look into the dreadful abyss of uncertainty, and 
shudder with apprehensions for our own fate. 
But cf how different an importance are the lives 
of different individuals ? Nay, of what im- 

than auother ? A few years ago, I could have 



heij'.es. 



a few, l 



lose both their 
"staff and shield." By the way, these 
helpless ones have lately got an addition ; 
Mrs B. having given me a fine girl since I 
wrote you. There is a charming passage in 
Thomson 's Edward and Ekanora, 



BURNS—LETTERS. 



■' Who so unworthy but may proudly deck 
With his fair-weather virtue, that exults 

The routrh wind- rage aloud ; when from the 

helm 
Tills virtue shrinks and in a corner lies, 
Lamenting— Heavens ! if privileged from trial, 
How cheap a thing were virtue ■ " 



n Thorns 



lember to have 



•■Attach thee fit 
And office, of 
With all its 



Probably I have quoted some of these to yo 



each produci 
n lisp the Right!, of Man 



Helpless, must fall before the blast of fate, 
Sunk to the earth, defaced its lovely form, 
Unless your shelter ward th' impending 

Oar second Right— but needless here is 

To keep that right inviolate's the fashion. 
Each man of sense has it so fuil before him, 
He'd die before he'd wrong it—'tis decorum. 
There was, indeed, in fir less polish 'd days, 
A time, when rough rude man had naughty 

Would swagger, swear, get drunk, kick up a 

Nay, even thus invade a lady's quiet. 

Now, thank oar stars ! these Gothic times are 

Now, well-bred men — and you are all well- 
Most justly think (and we are much the 



For Right the third, our last, our best, 01 
rhat right to 'fluttering female hearts tl 
Which even the Rights of Kings in low pro 



part of the kingdom. Inc 1 

deed, Heaven knows,' but 
to gag me. What my pm 



and the other day, for a prat; a:tre=s's Let.ellt- 
night, I wrote an address, which I will give 
-*-- other page, called Tlie Rig Us of 



W^V 



THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN. 



Ah .' co iro. I The Majesty of Woman ! 



No. CXSXVII. 

TO MISS E , OF YORK. 

MADAM, 21si March, 1793. 

.mong many things for which I envy those 

ale. Lug-lived old fellows before the flood, 
i this in particular, that when they met 
alb any boay after their own heart, they had 

* Ironical allusion to the saturnalia of the 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



ong prospect of many, many hap- 



Imgs of life, pop 
eternally comes ll 
1 nut ullow your 



n him an irresistible impulse to some 


idle ra- 


gary, such as arranging wild flowers 


in fan- 


astica! nosegays, tracing 1 he grass 


opper to 










or hunting alter the intrigues of bu 






e pursui 


wind, .hall eternally mislead him 


from the 


paths oflucre, and yet curse him with 


a keener 


relish than any man living for the 
hat lucre can purchase; lastly, 6 
measure of his woes by bestow.ng 


pleasures 


n hC. 



thoughts, au<! 
fec.ly acuuai, 
lug Miss B_ 



Miss II tells me 

packet to you, and I beg I 
-j — unet, though. 



that she is se 
"E'teVyou 



may have an opportunity of declaring with 
bow much respectful esteem I have the honour 





No. CXXXVIIL 








TO MISS C 






MA DA 


I, A 


SU* 


1793. 




er un'.ooked-for accid 














visit lo A 


I still hope (o have til 


have 


ably a 


However 


t pleJu^V 




asy months of harvest 


jegin. 












Kind relu 


n for the pleasure 1 ha 








l certain MS. volume c 






of Captain Riddel. 


To r 


.'-.• •" 


with an a 








madam. 




\\h 




of Uluslr 


ous descent is, 1 believ 




a :'\ l " 


of a tale 


t for poetry ; none e 






who had 


pretensions to it. The f 






s of the rhymiug trib 


ofte 


'',^1 


my thoughts when 1 am dispose 








the 








rueful a na 








be c - 


parative 


ievv of wretches, the c 














are formed to bear. Take a bei 


i of 


ur kin 



sions than are the usual lot of a 






infamy, and plunging them in the whirling 
vorlex of ruin ; yet where is the man but must 
own that all happiness on earth is not worthy 



if the heart of Man! 

No. CXXXIX. 

TO JOHN M'MUBDO. Esq. 

sin, Dcamler, 1793. 

It is said that we take the greatest liberties. 

with our greatest friends, and I pay myself a 

1 am going to apply the remark. I have 
owed you money longer than ever I owed it to 
any mau.-llere is Ker's account, and here 
ire six guineas ; and now, I don't owe a shil- 
ling to man—or woman either. But for these 

done myself the honour" have* wafted on you. 
long ago. Independent of the ol 






BURNS—LETTERS. 



No. CXL. 

TO MRS R 

WnO WAS TO BESPEAK A 

£ am thinking to send my Address to som< 
odical publication, but it has not got 
sanction, so praj look over it. 

As to the Tuesday 's play, let me beg o 
my dear madam, let me beg of you to gi 
The Wonder, a Win f v : 

please add. The Spoiled Child— you will 
ly oblige me by so doing. 



you are going to a party of ct 



you rfjoice with them that do i 
remember to weep with thei 
id pity your melancholy friend. 



No. CXLL 
TO A LADY, 



You '*ere so very good as to promise me to 

benefit night. That night is hied for Friday 

li-ay to k*ep Him. I have the pleasure to 
know Mr G. well. Hi, merit as an actor is 
generally acknowledged. He has genius and 
worth which would do honour to patronage: 
he is a poor and modest man ; claims wh.cli, 
from their very silence, have the more forcible 



d things of this life in their gift, ton ofte 
s brazen-fronted importunity snatch ilia 
n, the rightful due of retiring, humid 
at! Of all the qualities we assign to th 
hor ana director of Nature, by far the mo- 

rsfrom .-11 eye.-.'* O what insignificant 

e loaded them with wealth, who go to thei 



to beg, not to preach. 



in tu 




■eeye 


ars 1 sh 


i: U 


a"l l 




of 


that 






ppointe 


of 




se; the 




frienc 


migli' 










-ethng 








of t 














Asu 




















uty.to 






■ da-;.. 




but i 
















cTs 1 " 1 


M;!^ 


arly a 
ary p 






r „:° 


every s 
leiil 1 


am 


ft 
this 


be U rio 




' 


coi'h 




I' p..i',- 


:;;; 


patro 




A col 


■ 






iuih.fr 






The 




come fo 




by precede 








nd h 




desa 


ha 








a'l.f 




omplete 






A life 


of 


















the s 




cf m 




I 






;;r 






of billy 


prid 


be 




z 



should occur w here the good offices of a gentle- 
and sincerity as I now do myself the honour 



No. CXLIII. 



called on yon yesternight, t 



ugly offer, 1 shall Cf 



thou most amiable, and most accomplished of 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



ij- sex, with the iu«t 



No. CXLIV. 

TO THE SAME. 

I will wait on you, my ever-valued friend, bnl 






foretold— •' And behold, on whatsoever this 
man doth set bis henrt, it sbnll not prosper!' 



Pray that wisdom and bliss be more frequent 



No. CXLV. 

TO THE SAME. 

moment got the son- f 



pood deal. It shall be a lesson to me how I 
lend bun any thine; again. 

I have sent \ou Hc/tr, truly haripy to have 



One thing I shall proudly say, that 



No. CXLVL 
TO THE SAME. 



irrefragably proving it. Could any IhlKg 
ertnuseni? from a friend such as you ?— No ! 
To-morrow I shall have the houour of waiting 



No. CXLVII. 
TO THE SAME. 



^heart','' 


uethat ••'offen 
' before you \ 


am guiltless. To 


complitl 


ed of women, a 




lllir-f 


re crimes, I ara 


the most offending 



placency of friendly conbdence, now to find > 

wrenc'h^hat' m] bear. It is, 

however, some kind of miserable good luck, 

an unoffending wretch to the ground, it has a 

bosum, which, though it cannot heal the 

blunt their poignancy. 

\Viih the profoundest respect for your abilt- 

ners; and the most rerwnl wish and prayer 
for your welfare, peace, and bliss, I have ibe 

No. CXLVIII. 

TO JOHN 8YME, ESQ. 

You know that among other high dignities, 
you have the honour to be my supreme court 
of critical judicature, from which there is no 
appeal. I inclose yon a song which I com- 
posed since I saw you, and I am going to give 
you the history of it. Do you know that 

more than Mr 6. 'e unconcealable attachment 

mydea/syme, meet with a man who o»ed 
more to the Divine Giver of all good things 
than Mr O. ? A Cue fortune; a pleasing 

too, much beyond the usual run of young fel- 



and fort 
-butcfh 



lo all this, 
[shall say nothing 



Bcene I have drawn, the h 
As I am a good deal plea: 



r thoaght of 

t to Mrs , but on second thoughts, 

lerhaps what I offer as the honest incense of 
enuiue respect, might, from the well-known 
haracter of poverty and poetry, be construed 
uto some modification or other of that servility 



No. CXL1X. 
TO MISS 



arising in my breast, as I put pen to paper to 
you, is painful. The scenes I have past with 



BURNS. -LETTF.liS. 

>t refuse this favour to a man wlioi 
h my perf 



TO MR CUNNINGHAM. 

25(A February, 1794. 



suspense, 


the s 


ability ar.c 


hard 


ihood of III 


rock that 
do (he lea 




he blast ? 
hese, why 


If th 

would 






my m 


series, with thy i 




me? 










For these 


twom 


nths I ha 


ve not 


been able t 


aforiC 


• My 


dwhhTd 


imi 


frame were 


of hjpocl 


-" 




sons my exis-.ence. 
















b -re in lb 




of these 








, iriii 


ng, were ye 


what I c 


ould ill bear 




irritated me 


that my t 


eelings 






lly be envie 


by d repr 


bale - 




ng to 


the seutenc 










Areyo 


- 


n.helangu 


age of consolation 


I cave 




d in reflection 


very topic o 




".i h- 










with a 






reasonings 






f, I was 


.ke J 


udas Iscario 


preacbin 


'! ; / ?; 


pel : he m 


gut II 


eltandmoul 



folly r 



F giddy caprice, c 
.chief if precipital 

st of you. madam 

through yoi 

it the wish of m 
ion of all my trifle 
written. They ai 



made my superiors, will, with themselvei 

them, or return them to me ? As a pledge o'f 

cumstance, indeed, was* all their merit, 
unhappily for me, that merit they no 1. 
possess, and I hope that Mrs 's good 



* The song inclosed was the one begin 
■« O wai ye wba's to yontown. " 



mown by the names of courage, fortitude 
minity. The other is made up of thos. 
s aud sentiments, which, however thi 
may deny them, or the enthusiast dis< 
them, are yet, lam """""^"/'g^ 
i/CX'f I may be allowed the ez 

se' awful obscure realities—an all-power 
1 equally beneficent God ; and ajworl 



sofcc 



The i 



.0 ihe ■ 



Df, and with which they are fools if they 
hemselves much to do. Nor would I 
1 with a man for his irrel : gion, nny more 

regret that he was shut out from what, 



156 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



religion. If my ton shouid happen to be a man 
ct reeling, seu'.imenl, and taste, I shall thus 

myself that lbs sweet little fellow who is just 
agination, delighted with i£e painter, and wrapt 



ring; himself (he ' 
uth of life. He look 



•'These, as they change. Almighty Father, 

Are but the varied God. The rolling year 
IsfuUol thee. " 

And so on, in all the spirit and ardour of that 



delight*, and I a,k w 



for her own ; and lays bold on then 
ing, and approving God. 



is the first ep : !tle you ev 
lia nether world. I mil 
s of Hell, amid (he hon 



nety-n.l 



ae, for 



impropriety of my conduct yesternight under 

furze, with iny aching head reclined on a pil- 
low of ever piercing thorn, while an infernal 
tormentor, wrinkled, and old, and cruel, bis 
name I think is Recollection, with a whip of 

anTTeep's MguUn^iernVily' awake. Still! 
madam, if I could in any measure be reinstated 
in the good opinion of the fair circle whom my 
conduct last night ,o much injured, I think it 
would be an alleviation to my torment. For 



e yon with this letter. To 



Your good opinii 
was truly a beast 



n of fine sense, gentle a 
wretch's best apology li 





No. CLII. 






TO MRS DUNLOP. 






15:A Decern bcr, 


1795. 


MY DEAR FRIEND, 






am in a com pi Me DeceirberUh 




g »r 


ny, sullen, s(upid, as even (he 


deity of 


Hull 


ess herself could wish, I shall n 


,t drawl 








gies, for my late silence. Only one I 


shail 




il sym- 


path 




eet little 


giri, 




ill. (hat 














01 an. 




of hus- 




peculiar cares. I cannot descril 


7to h you 








Ij B 


ve me. I see a (rain of belple 


», little 


loiks 




r stay: 




n what a brittle thread does th 


life of 




bang 1 If I am nipt oft al the c 






e ; even in all the vigoar of man 






such things happen every day - 






what would become of my littl 


flock! 


'Tis 


bere that 1 envy your people of fo 




Afal 


.er on his death-bed, Ia j<'"g an eve 


rlasting 



i, has indeed woe 



to leave (alking of the matter so gravely, I 
shall sing with the old Scow ballad — 



BURNS LETTERS. 



f. 


that I had 


ne'er been 








I would neve 


bad nae c 






* 


TjyZ^X 


wife and 






Crowdie! ance 


; crowdie 


twice 






Crowdie! Ih 








A 


ie'il crowdie 


a'my mea 


away. 








December 


•2ith. 


We 


have had a I 

-, ouly, as al 
es a stagnati 
eomplaintof 


rilliant th 

n of trade 
he country 




re, tl 

e epic 
/ ms 


; 


al Address, w 
of one of the 






benei 
eh is 


fiov. 


s: — 










ADDRESS. 







ho, as the boughs all temptingly project, 

st to meditate the healing leap : 
Wouldstthou be cured, tbou silly, moping elf, 
Laugh at her follies— laugh e'en at thvself : 

And love a kinder— that's your grand spe- 
To sum up all, be merry, I advise ; _ 



The" Man of Fteling? " Maj the great Spiri 
■— - up the weight of thy gray hairs; am 



* Prologue, Epilogue, or some such matte! 
' a Poet, roosted, near the skies, 



Told him, I can: 
Said, nothing 1 



And last, my prologue 



return for mine ? Tell me how you 
irks and notes through the book. I 
give a farthing for a book, unless 

itely collected, for a friend's perusal, 



Rouse from his sluggish slumbers fell Rep. 



I could no more— askance the a 
D'ye think, said I, this face was m 

And so, your servant- gloomy Mas! 



r-.'^'ai'd Hich^et 1 T'he^amTtin"' I 
.ot care to destroy, 1 discovered many 'of 

writing them out,' in a bonnd Ms! for my 
friend s library. As I wrote always to you 

commencement /o"' '** P ' °' ,ed ' ^^ **" 
you a perusal of my book. 



No. CLIIL 
TO MRS DUNLOP, IN LONDON. 

Dumfries, 21/A December, 1795. 

have been prodigiously disappointed iu tr, 

London journey of yours. In the first plac 

-•—l your last to me reached Dumfries, I w 



md good spirits. Do 



158 DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

As I hope to get a frank from my friend 
Captain Wilier, I shall, every leisure hour, 



lowing for a favourite 

December 29. 
Since I began this letter I have teen appointed 
to act in the capacity of supervisor here, and I 
assure you, v P business, and 

what with that business being new to me, I 

have spoken to you, had you been in town. 

This appointment is only tenip'orary, and dur- 
ing ih» illness of the present incumbent; but 
I look forward to an early period when I shall 

devoutly to be wished 1 My political sius 
seem to be forgiven inc. 

This is the season ("New-year's day is now my 
dale; of wishing 1 and mine are most fervently 
offered up for you ! May life to you be a 
positive blessing while it lasts, for jour own 
sake ; and that it may yetbegreatU prolonged, 
is mi wish for my own sake, and for the sake 
of the rest of your friends ! What a transient 
business is life ! Very lately I was 



sincss is life ! Very lately I was a boy 

t t'other day I was a young man ; and 

already begin to feel the rigid fibre and stiffen- 

inj joints of old ape in.' fast o'er my frame. 

With all my follies of youth, ami, I fear, a few 
vices of manhood, still 1 congratulate myself 
on having had, in early days, religion strongly 
impressed on my mind. 1 have nothing to say 



No. CUV. 

TO MRS 

20th January, 1788. 
I cannot express my gratitude to you f 
aliening me a longer perusal of J„ 
III fact. I never met with a book thai 

I, as a member of the library. 



Cn r 



tnly feel 



onger ll 






■■'.. 



,1 of 01 



spensable de-> 

The health you wished me in your morn- 
ing s card, i b , I think, flown from me for 



The muses have i 
The following detach 



No. CLV. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 



31>t January, KEG. 

1 These many months you have been two pack 

• -IV debt-what sin of ignorance I hav 

ted against so highly valued a friend. 



whut creed be be 



who ia firmly persuaded of infinite wisdom and and so rapidly, as to put it out of my power to 



felici 



a! id flu 



n for his mental enjoy 
sure slay, in the hour of difficult--, trouble, and 
distress ; and a never-failing anchor of hope, 
when he looks beyond the grave. 

January 12. 

You will have seen our worthy and ingenious 
friend, the Doctor, long ere this. I hope be 



Society aud Manners s and still I read it with 
delight. His humour is perfectly or trinal-it 
is neither the humour of Addison, nor swift, 
nor Sterne, nor of any body tut Dr Moore. 
By the bye, you have deprived me of Zelueo ; 

up the sins of my neglect from among the ashes 

He has paid me a pretty compliment, ly 
quoting me iu his last publication.* 



rYhen pleasure fascinates the mental sigh', 
Allliction purifies the visual ray. 



No. CLVL. 

TO MRS R 



capable of showing my loyally it 



BURNS.— LETTERS. 



Racked 


aa I am with rheumaf 


5ms, I meet 




ce with a greeting 1 ke th 


it of Balak to 


Balaam 


— *' Come, curse me Jaco 


b ; and come, 




Israel I" So saj I, Co 








e the north ! 


Would 
copy jo 


a^ut a V lo™ e ' s on- ? Ch "** 


unstances, to 


I ma 


y perhaps see you on Sa 


urdav, but I 




be at the ball. Why sho 


ldl> "man 


delight 


not me, nor woman eithe 


r:»Canyou 




me with the song, Let us 


alt be unhappy 




1 Do, if you can, and o 


lige tepauvre 


miserable 


R. B. 











No. CLVII. 






TO MR CUNNINGHAM. 


Brow, 


Sea-bathing Quarters, 10 


July, 1796. 


MY 


DEAK CUKKIXGH.AM, 






ved yours here this moment, and am 


indeed 


high!, flattered with the a 


p probation of 


the lite 
cle inf 


rary circle you mention ; 


a i, eran eir- 
o kingdoms. 


Alas! 


my friend, I fear the vox 


b of the bard 




n be heard among you r 


o morel For 




ght or ten months I hav 






les bedfast and scruetii 




these 1 


1st three months I have 


beeu tortured 



t home, on L.35 ? 
I had intended to be 
d that of all the frier, 



copy h 



rill s< 



but I shall 
it yoi 



Apropo 



if of the right gender, I intend shall be in 
troduced to the world by the respectable desig 
nation of Alexander Cunningham Burns 
My last was James Gleitairn ; so you cat 



No. CLVIIL 
TO MRS BURNS. 



OVE, Brow, Thursday. 
mil I could tell you what 



|T pains, and I think has strengthei 
it my appetite is still extremely b 



are the only thing I ca 
ly to hear by Miss Jess 
veil. My very best a. 



No. CLIX. 
TO MRS DUNLOP. 

illness which has long hung about me, 'in all 
probability w 



whence 




-!■• f 


-r re 


urns. Yc 




which f 




ny years y 


Your con 
i.idence, 


He 


iriei 


"1; 


dearest to 
hly enterta 






With wha 






:he 


eal! 


The 




- 






my ol 


or palpital 


Farewell 


•!! 









be the last produc- 
Jiedonlhe21stof 
rwards. He had, 



he greater part of her 
royed by our bard about 



ment that will be felt, that 
lent lady's have not served 
the collection. 



THE POEMS 



ROBERT BURNS, 



NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN 



CALEDONIAN HUNT. 



A Scottish Eard, proud of the name, and | spirit, 6be may expect protection, wealth, and 
whose lngue»t ambition is lo ting in his : liberty. In the last place. I come to proffer 



f bay Country I'juud me, : When you go fori to awaken the Echoes, 

-w her inspiring mantle jour torefalher», m*y Pleasure ever be of your 
me sing tlie lone, the pfrty ; and may social joy await your return : 
and rural pleasures of When harassed in courts or camp. with the 



my wild, ar 



ta.es. 




; 


ay tyranny in the Ituler, and licentiousness 








the People, equally lind you an inexorable 




ds and Geulle- 


Eg 


e! 










^"pTOtUmrfSag^lnTho 






I hare the honour to be, 


nest rusticity is 




With the s.nceresl gratitude, 


ashamed of it. Nor no 1 nrtse 








with the venal soul of a servil 


Aulhor, look- 




My Lords and Gentlemen, 


ins* for a continuation of those 


favours : I was 




Your most devoted humble servant, 


bred to the Plough, and am i 


.dependent^! 






come to claim the common Sco 






ROBERT BURNS. 


yon, my illustrious Couutrym 


n ; and to tell 








le. I come to 




Edinburgh, 


eoagraiuiate my Country, that 


he blood of her 




April 4, 1787. 



I 



POEMS, 
CHIEFLY SCOTTISH. 



THE TWA DOGS: 



Twaeintbat 
That bears the 
Upon a bonnii 



When 



rs gang t 






His locked, letter 'd, I 
Show 'd him thegentlet 



collar 



ind scholar : 
ilut tho' he was o' high degree, 
The lienl a pride.na pride had be ; 

Ev'n w.lh a tinkler gipse/'s messm'.' 

Nae tawted tyke.'tho' e'er sae dud'die, 
But he wad stan't, as glad to see bira, 
And stroan't on stanes an" hillocks wi' him. 

The tither was a ploughman's collie, 
A rbyminff, ranting, ravin? billie. 
AMta for 



Wa 



his freaks bad Luath ca'd him, 
some dog in Highland sang,* 
made lang syne -Lord Imons how la 



er his hurdies wi' 
onbt but they 



hick tbegiiher ; 
.e whyles snufi'd aud snowkit ; 



* Cuehullln's dog in Ossian's Fingal, 



Whyles seour'd awa 
v.i'daflin wea 





gentry's! 
oor bodies 






waj i 


ft I saw-, 
v'd ava. 




Laird 


geis in bis 


racked rents 




^. v -;; 


answer at t 


imsel'; 
he bell ; 




iSr 


tail, «hare, thro' the 
ettcr 'd Geordie keeks. 


..-,k,, 


in-, r 




nought but t 


iling, 



Trowth, C^sar, whvles they're faihl 
cofe^howkm In \ 



An'whentl 
,ike loss o' h 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

riven out baith r< 



low huff'd, and cuff'd, and dTsrespe'ckiJ S 

or d'elvers', ditchers, and sic cattle ; 
hey gang at 



ucy by pc 
linking b) 



He 

He 

An 


•11 stamp an' 

hile they maun 
' bear it a', ar 


Bu 


see how folk 
t surely poor f 



ir gear ; 

>ct humble, 






:rlie at the folk in 
ileak-fae'd Hallov 



y the year begins, 



The cantie auld folks crackin' crouse, 

My heartha*' bee'nsae'fain'To see them!' ~ 
That I for joy hae barkit wi' them. 

Still it's owre true that ye hae said, 

fi er^r ra i o„ra W cSMe e l P c , k , ' d - 
O' decent, honest, fawsont folk, 



Some rascal's pndefu greed to quencj 
Wha thinks to knit himself the faster 
In favours wi' some gentle master, 
Whaaiblins thrane,a-porlr 
For Britain's guid bis saul indentin'- 



Ilaith, lad, ye little ken about it : 
For Britain's guid 1— guid faith, I doub 
Say, rather, gaun as Premiers lead him 
An' saying aye or no's they bid him : 
At opera* an' plays parading 

"'.,/- : 

To Hague or Calais takes a waft, 



There, at T 


enna, or Versailles, 




He rives his. f 


liber's 


auld entails ! 




Or by Madrid he take 


s the rout, 




To thrum guit 


ars and fechl wi' nowt 




Or down Itali 




startles, 




Wh-re-hunti 


igarao 


ig groves o' my 


Ik 


Then bouses d 


rumly German water, 








air and fatter, 




An' clear the 




ential sorrows, 




Love gifts of Carniva 


Signora's. 




For Britain's 


• 


for her destruct 




Wi'dissipatio 


fend 


an' faction 




Hech man ! 


dear si 


rsl is that tbe gate 


They waste sae mony 






Are we sae fou 




n' harass'd 




For gear to ga 


■. lal 


gate at last! 




O would the 


y stay 


back frae court 




An' please the 




wi' coumra sp 












The Laird, th 


Te.iai 






For tbae frank 




', ramblin' bill 








11 hearted felk» 




Except for bre 


l ' : '". i \ 


their tiuimer, 





t will je tell me, Master 
great folk's life's a life o 
cauld or hunger ere cans 
very thought o 't need na 


fear tl 


C.SESAR. 




_d, man, were je but whyles 


gentles ye wad ne'er envy 


them. 


s true, they need na starv 


eor sv 


' winter's cauld or simmer's he 
•ve nae sair wark to craze their 
311 auld age wi' gripe.s ?n' gran 



In like proportion less will hint ll^n. 
A country fellow at the pleugb. 
His acres till'd, he's right tneugh ; 






1J J7A 







_ ^ 



(p^^ 




A ^zleul'don^lhe^sfaco 
But Gentlemen, an' Ladies wa 
Wi' ev'ndown want o' wark ai 
They loiter, lounging, lank, an 
Tho" deil haet ails them, yet ui 



■ ul,, ; 



Their gallopin' through public plae 



matches, 

nad wi' drink an' whoring, 



Whyles o'er the wee bit c 
They sip the scandal poti< 
Or lee lang nights, wi' ct 



By this the sun was 


nut n 


• s ;?ht 








t the n 














i' in 








■ = u- 


their I 




Rejoiced they were nt 




.,i .'« 




And each took aff his 






H^sr - - -ueet Borne 


ither 


day. 





SCOTCH DRINK. 



That's prestwi' grief an 



Solomon's Proverbs, xxxi. 6, 7. 






Thou, my Muae ! guid auld Scotch D 

us iTl'e'^U I'SntiiS"'"""' 1 ' 
To sing thy name. 

Let husky Wheat the haughs adorn, 
And Aits set up their awn;e Lorn, 



POEMS. 

An* Pease and B 



o king o 

On thee aft Scotland chows her cood, 
In souple scones, the wale o' food I 
Or tumblin' in the boiling flood, 

Wi' kail an- beef; 
But when thou pours thy strong heart's blood, 

There thou shines chief. 

Food fills the wame, an' keeps us liviu' ; 
Tho' life's a gift no worth receivin', 



The wheels o' life gae do\ 



i gae dovvu-nill, scrtevin', 
Wi' raltlin' glee. 

Thou clears the head o 1 doited Lear ; 
"hou cheers the heart o' drooping Care 



Thou even brighten 


dark Despair 
i' gloomy smile. 


Aft, clad in mass 

Wi : Gentles thou er 

Yet humbly kind in 

T 

His wee drap parrit 

Tl 


™^Si 


Thou art the life 
But thee, what wer 
Ev'n godly meeting 





By thee inspired, 
When gaping they besiege the tents, 
Are doubly tired. 

That merry night we get the corn in, 
sweetly then thou reams the horn in • 
Or reekin' on a New-year mornin' 
In cog or bicker, 
Ji ' just a wee drap sp ritual burn in, 
An' gusty sucker ! 

When Vulc 



\y.\ov. 



V the lugget caup ! 
Then Burnewin* comes on like death 
Atev'rychap. 

; mercy, then, for aim or steel ; _ 
™ K The stronVfo/e hamm< 



When skirlin weanies see the light, 
lou maks the gossips clatter bright, 
ow fumblin' cuifs their dearies slight, 

Or plack frae them. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



How easy can the barley bree 



AlaVe ! that e'er my Muse has reason, 
To wyte her countrymen wi' treason ; 

mony a. y wee^ j^™^?^ 
An' hardly, in a winter's season, 

Wae worth that brandy, burning trash, 
Fell source o' monie a pain an' bra--h ! 
Twins monie a poor, doylt, drunken hash. 
O' half hi 






'loh- 



Wi' bitt 


-r,d 


Or 


for 


ign gill. 


May gravel 


round 


his 


blather n 










ich b;. i„ 


Wha tw 


stsh 


; if I.. 

O' 


too 




Out owr 








-■ 






155 w 


' honest men 


O Wh 


■dy 


soulo 


*pl 


an pr 


Accept a 


Ertr 


ie's hu 




e thanks! 



Thee, Ferintosh I O sadly lost ! 

' May kill us a';' 

For loyal Forbes' charter' 1 boast 

Is ta'enawa'l 



eeches o' th' Excise, 



V,"ba niak the Whisky Sltlli their prize ! 



An' bake them up in 



An' deal't about as thy blind s 



THE AUTHOR'S 
EARNEST CRY AND PRAYER* 

SCOTCH REPKESENTATIVES 

HOUSE OF COMMONS. 

Dearest of Distillation ! last and best 

How art thou lost ! 

Parody en MUiin. 

Ye Irish Lords, ye Knights an' Squires, 
Wha represent our brughs an' shires, 
And doucely manage our affairs 



'« in great afflict 
aid that cursed r 
On Aquacilce; 



An' rouse them 

Stand forth, an' tell Ji 

The honest, open, naked 

Tell him o' mine an' Sc. 

His ser 

The muckle devil blaw v 



Does ony greai 
Speak out, an' i 
Let posts an' pe 



Before them a', 
it Scotland greeting owre her thrislle; 



* This was written before the act anent the 
Scotch Distilleries, of session 178U; for whi;h 
Scotland nnd the Auihcr return their tnos: 
grateful thiiuks. 



BURNS POEMS. 



Is there, that bears the name o' Scot, 
But feels his heart's bluid Thing hot, 
To see his poor auld Mither's pot 

An' plunder'd o ner hindmost groat 
By gallows knaves ? 

Alas ! I'm but a nameless wight, 
Trodei' the mire out o' sight 1 
But could I like MonUomeries fight, 

Or gab like Boswel,, 
There's some sark-necks I wad draw tight. 



Ye winna bear it 1 



Thee, aith-detesting, chaste Kilkerran ;*' 
An' that glib-gabbet Highland Baron. 

The Laird o" Graham ;| 
An' ane, a chap that's damn'd auldfarrac, 

Dirndas his name. 

ErsUne, a spunkie Norland billie ; 
True Campbells, Frederick an' Ilai/ ; 
An' Livingstone, the bauld Sir Willie ; 



Arouse, my boys '. exert your mettle, 

",,■ :■■: . ',,:k her kettle; 

Or faith 1 I'll wad my new pleugb-pettle, 

She'll teach yon, wi' a reekin' whittle, 



Play'd her that p 



For G— d sake, Sirs ! then speak her fair, 



Yon illtongued tinkler, Charlie Fox, 
lay taunt yon wi' his jeers an' mocks ; 
ut gie him't het, my hearty cocks ! 



Tell yon guid bluid 



lanldiVaHie IV,,.:- .': V-r 



I'll pledge my aith in guid braid Scolch, 
He need na fear their foul reproach 



- ; ... 

Tho' by the neck she should be strung. 

An' now, ye chosen Five-and-Forty, 
May still your Mither's heart support ye 
Then, tho' a Minister grow dorly, 



Ye'll snap your fingers 



iefore his fac< 



early. 



God bless your Honours a' yonr days, 

That haunt St Jamie's! 
Whfle Rab hFs name is. 







POSTSCRIPT. 




Let ha 


lf-sta 


rved slaves, in wa 


rme 


skies, 


Their 
Sheej 


lot auld Scotland ne'er 
But blithe a 

Tak aff thei 


mg 
boy 


rfsky. 

bisky. 


Wh 
AVhile 


at tho 
frag 


'an h cfbloo h ms bU and k! 


Set 


t™ 



Or hounded forth di 



In hungry drd 



* A -worthy old Hostess of the Ai 
VaucMine, where hesometimes stndi< 
over a glass cf guid auld Scotch Prh 



Their bauldest thought's a 1: 

To stan' 01 

Till skelp— a shot— they're ; 

But bring a Scotsman frae 

Clap in his'cheek a Highlan 

bay, such is royal George's 

An ' there' 

He has nae thought but how 



st draught o' breathin 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 
bans ring swither 



Wsij/gamjlhegither!) 
Tak all- your dram! 



THE HOLY FAIR.* 



A mask that 1 ke the gorget 

Dye-varying on the p.geon 

And for r. mantle large and 1 



I walked forth to view the 



wilher'd, lang, an' thin, 






Wi' bannet off, quoth I, < Sweet lass 

Juo' she, an' laughin' as she spak, 

' Ye, for rny sake, ha'e gi'e'n the fee 
Of a' the ten commands 



- i» Hup: rsiiliun here, 

hat's Hypoeiisy. 

IE to Holy Fair, 



The lasses sielpinMiarrfoot, timing, 

In silks an' scarlets glitter ; 

Au' fartt baked wi' butter, 



by th 


plule 


w1' S ha>n 


ose, 




'!: ■";,' 


v. r Is. 




lice"' 




ev'ry 






in', 






ig do: 


s, some ch 


















Right loud t 


at day 








IX. 






stands 


ashed 


to fend the 


show'r 





batch of wabster lads, 



BURNS POEMS 



Ane curses feet that fjled his' shins, 

On^W^hanlsL^'cho^Vswatch 
Wi' screw'd-up gTace-proud faces j 

Thrang winkin' on the lasses 

To chairs that day. 



Nae wonder that it pride hii 
Wha's ain d»ar lass, that he 1 

Which, by degrees, slips roun 
An's loof upon her bosom 

Unkenn'd th 



Now a' the 



Wi* fright that day. 
XIII. 



Hislenglhei up snout, 

His eldritch squeel and gestures. 



Whal signifies his ban 

Of moral powers am 

His English style, an' 



ie anld pagan Heathen, 

'er a word o' faith in 

That's right that day. 



's got the word o' ( 
!. an' mim has viei 



Altho' his earn 
Like hafflins 



Jt he weel believes 
: auld wives' fables : 
birkie wants a mansa 



At times that day. 
XVIII. 



V, hi 


e thick au'lhr 


ang, an' loud 




w 


• logic, an' w 


' Scripture, 




Ihey 


raiseallin, th 


at in the end, 






a 










xrx. 


- v - 


Leez 








Than either Scho 






It kk 


dies wit, it wo 


ukens lair. 




D ? 




knowledge. 




£-'•. 


«hiskygill,or 


penny wheep 




Or 








Itne 


er fails on dri 






To 


kittle up our n 







Hbp^rcing 

His talk o' i 
Our very s 


ell, 


ds, like'Highla 

where devils d 
oes harrow* 
Wi' fright tha 


rids 
irell, 
da, 




A vast, unbottom 
Filled fou o' It 

Wha's ragin' fla 
Wad melt the 

The half asleep s 
And think they 


XXII. 

'd boundless p 


£e 


T> 


Whenprese 


tly 


t does appear, 






. n *A street 


SO 


called, which 


fac 


s ihelenl 




Sh. 


kspeare's Hamlet. 





DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



XXV. 

is ! for him that gets nae lass, 



Let lasses be affronted 



Now Clinkumbell, * 





the I 




a blink, 






trip their 












They 


re a' 


n famous 


tune . 



DEATH AND DOCTOR HORNBOOK. 



Isjustastrue'stheDeil's 

Or Dubli 

That e'er he nearer comes 


in hell 
n city : 
mind' 




'Siraic 


kle pity. 


The 


Claeban yill hod made 


me cant 


I St. 


snafou, but just had 


plenty ; 


An' 


hillocks. *|3jb 


isS'" 


The 
Toe 


ount her horns, wi' a' my pow 


But 


whether the had three 
I couldna 


or four, 
tell. 


Iwa 
Tho 


s come round about th 
todlin down on Willie 
i.gniy stafifwi'a'my 

To keep 
leeward whiles, aga 


skill,' 
ne sicke 
nst my 1 


Ith 

Til a 


re wi' something did ft 





A three-taed leister 01 



They were as thii 






And then, its shanks, 
As cheeks o' branks. 
i," quo' I; 'Friend! hae ye 



At length, says I, ' Fric 



lis 


sak right 


howe,-« 




ame i 


Death, 


I'M 


benaile 


y'd.'-Q 




, 'Co 


d faith, 


Ye 


re maybe 


But 


lap 




th; 


I red ye wed 


"-}• \i 


ith, 








See 




s a gully ! ' 






quo' he, 


put 


up you 


r whittle, 












IIu 


if I did, 


I wad be 


kittl 










To be mis 


c-ar'd, 




I wad namind it, no, 


that 


filth- 





counter happened ii 
mical ferer was the 



■ Av. av,' quo' he, an' shook his head, 
•iTe'en a laag.lang time indeed 
Sin' I began' - -' 



aun Deaih. 
ar hand fled, 



Till ane Hornbook's' 



is king's hood ir 

i sae wee! acqviai 

An' ither 



a scythe, and there's a dar 



Damn'd haet they'll kill. 

I thr^ w a "noble throw at ane ; 

Wi' less, I'm sure, I've hundreds slain ; 

It just played dirl on the bane, 

But did nae inair. 

« Hornbook was by, wi' ready art, 
And had sae fortified the part, 
That when I looked to my dart, 



ButyetlhebauldAii 
I might as weel hae 



Baith their disease, a 



-.POEMS. 

The Farina of beans and p< 
He has't i 



Of a' dimer, ; 
A' kinds o' 

Their Latin 



* This gentleman, Dr Hornbook, is, pro- 
ssionally, abrother of the Sovereign Order of 
e Ferula j but by intuition and inspiration, 
at once an Apothecary, Surgeon, and Phy- 



plenty; 
He can cont'ent ye. 



' Forbye ! 
Urinus si 



Distilled p. 



' Waes me for Johnnie Ged's Hole { n 
Quo' I, ' If that the news be true ! 
His braw calf-ward where gowans grev 



The creature grained an eldritch laugh, 
An' says, ' Me needna yoke the pleugh, 
Kirk-yards will soon be tilled eneugh, 



• Whare I kiUed at 
By loss o' blood or 
This night I'm 



te death, 



That Hornbook's skill 
Has clad a score i' their last claith, 
By drap an' pill. 

' An honest Wabster to his trade, 

Gat tippence-worih to mend her head, 

The wife slade cannie to her bed, 

But ne'er spak mair. 

' A countra Laird had ta'en the batts, 



The lad, for twa gird g, 



°Was laird hirnsel*. 



To hide it there. 
a swatch o' Hornbook's 1 



' But hark ! I'll tell you of a plot, 
Though dinna ye be speaking o't ; 
I'll nail the self-conceited^ sot, 

Neiat time we meet, I'll wad a groat,' 
Hegetshisfairin'!' 

Butjustashebegantotell, 

The auld kirk-hammer strak the bell, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



THE BRIGS OF AYR : 



Inscribed to J. B 

The simple Bard, rough at Ih 
Learning his tuneful trade frc 
The chanting linnet, or the m 
Hailing the setting sun, swf 

thorn bush : 
The soaring lark, the pen 

shrill, 
Or deep-toned plovers, grey, 

o'er the bill; 
Shall he, nursed in the Peasa 
To hardy independence brave 
By early Poverty to hardship 



, Esq. Asr. 

rustic plough, 



And thro 
He glows 



i all the s 



nncouthly o' 
it of the Bard 



Still, if some Palron's generous care he trac 
SkiU'd in the secret, to bestow with grace ; 

When B befriends his humble nam 

And hands the rustic stranger up to fame, 
With heart-felt throbs his grateful boso 

swells, 
The godlike bliss, togive, alone excels. 

'Twas when the stacks get on their wint 

And thack and rape secure the toil-won crap 
Potaloe bings are suugrred up frae skaiih 
Of coming Winter's biting, frosty breath; 



al'd u 



b frugal 






Are doom'd by man, that tyi 

The death o' devils, smoor'd ^ 

The thundering guns are heard o 
The wounded coveys, reeling, sc 
Thefeather'd field-mates, bound by Nature's 



(What 



no. her. 



;e lie 



t in y LI 



is precede the sunny days, 



'Twas in that sea 
Unknown and po 
ie night, within 



in, -when a simple bard, 

s reward, 
:e ancient trugh of Ayr, 



wheel'd the left 

(Whether impell'd by all-directing Fate 
To witness what I after shall narrate : 
Or whe " 



why), 



t be 1 



sy Dungeon-clockf had uumber'd 
And Wallace towerf had sworn the fact was 
The tide-swoln Firth, with sullen-sounding 
Thro' the still night dash'd hoarse along the 
All else was 'hush 'd in Nature's closed e'e : 



shone high o'ei 



silver beam, 



Ihe clanging sough 
Two dusky forms dai 



Oir 




mer i 


astantly "descry' 




The 


Sprite, tba 


owre 


the Brigs of Ayr pre- 


(Th 


it Barus are 




-sighted is nae 


joke, 


An' 


ken the ling 


if t 






Fay 


, Spunkies, 


Kelp 


es, a' they can 


explain 


And 


ev'nth'ever 


icleils 


they bra wly ken 


them,) 


Auld Brig appsa 


r'dof 






The 






icin his face: 




lies 




wi' T 




i lang, 


Yet 


teughly dou 


e, be 


bade an unco ba 


°g- 


Ne\ 


Brig was b 








Th; 


be, at Lon 


St 


e ane Adams go 






hand five to 




ves as smooth's 




Wi 


virls and w 


.irlvg 


rums at the head. 


The 


Goth was 


sialki 


g round with 


anxious 



it the Auld Brig end. 



BURN'S POEMS. 



Eut gin ye be a brig as auld as me, 

Tho' fauh lhat day I doubt ye '11 never see ; 

There'll be, if that day come, I'll wad a 

boddle, 
Some fewer whigmaleeries in your noddle. 



Tho' they should cast the very sark and 
Ere they would grate their feelings wi' the 
O' sic an ugly Gothic hulk as you. 

Conceited gowk ! puff'd up wi' windy 
This mome a 'year I've stood the wind and 
'crazy eild 



I'll be a Brig when ye 're a shapel 


=="cV ; .r 






But twa-three winters will inform 




When heavy, dark, continued a'-d 






; 't.lai:., 


When from the hills where spring 




ing Coil, 




Or stately Lugar's mossy fountain 


boil, 







Fine Architecture, trowth, I needs must say 

o't! 
The L— d be thanki; that we've tint the ga 



O'er arching, mouldy, gloom-inspiring coves 
'-'■jpporting roofs, fantastic, stony groves ; 



Mansions that would disgrace the building 

Of any mason, reptile, bird, or beast; 

Or frosty maids forsworn the dear 'embrace, 
Or cuifs of latter times wha held the notion 

Fancies that our guid Brugb denies protec- 

And soon may they expire, unblest with re- 



Ye godly Councils wha hae blest this town ; 
Ye godly Brethren of the sacred gown, 
Wha meekly gae your hurdies to (he sniiters ,- 
And (what would now be strange) ye godly 

Writers: 
A' ve douce folk I've borne aboon the broo, 
We're ye but here, what would ye say or do! 
How would your spirits groan m deep rexa- 

To see each melancholy alteration ; 



r'Ri'.'i 



their 



* A noted ford, just above (he Auld Brig. 

+ The banks of Garpal Water is one of the 
few places in the West of Scotland, where 
those fancy-scaring beings, known by the 
came of Ghaists, still continue pertinaciously 



le langer tiu-ifty Citizens, an' don 
:et ower a pint, or in the Council 
it staumrel, corky-headed, gract 



new Brigs and Har 



And muckle mair than ye can mak t* 

As for your Priesthood, I shall say but little, 
Corbies and Clergy are a shot right kittle : 

Abuse o' Magi^'raus nlj!, : v, ,:e] he spared : 
To liken them to your auld warld squad, 
I must needs say comparisons are odd. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



ir can hae a handle 


1 To rustic Agriculture did beque 


th 




The broken iron instruments of 




waddles down the 


At sight of whom our sprite 


forgat 



Men wha grew wise priggin' owre hops 

Or gather'd hb'ral views in Bonds and i 

If haply Knowledge, on a random tramp, 
Had shored ihem with a glimmer of his la 
And would to Common-sense, for once 

Plain dull Stupidity stept kindly in to 



What farther clishmaclavei 
said. 
What bloody wars, if sprite; 

No man can tell ; but all befori 






When 


lijro' 


his dear 


;■!< 






.itli 1 


ghland i 






Orwh 




blruck olJ Si 




The lo 
How w 


,'.!:■ li 




ndT 


bleeding 


Andev 


" 1,IS 


matchles 


hand with fi 


No gue 


-CO.! 


d tell wh 


nf in 


strument 


But all 


,ll?.-0 


1 of Mus 






Harmo 










While 




melody 


pour'd movin 


The Genus 


of the sir 


earn 








ief advar 
d with w 


a'er 




His ma 


lly leg 


withga 


''-''■■ 





er's time-bleach 'd locks did hoary 



By Hospitality with cloudless 
Next follow 'd Courage with hi 



* A well known performer of Scottish n 



THE ORDINATION. 



Kilmarnock wabsters, fidge and clav 

An' ye wha leather rax an' draw,' 

Of a' denominations, 
Swith to the Laigh Kirk, ane an' a' 

Then aff to Begbie's in a raw, 



Wi' dirt this day. 

IH. 

n king David owre, 



And gloriously she'll whang her 

Wi' pith this day. 

IV. 

Come let a proper text be read, 

How graceless Hamf leugb at his Dad, 
Which made Canaan a niger; 

Or Phineast drove the murdering blade, 
Wi' where-abhorring rigour; 

Or Zipporah,§ the scaulding jade, 
Was like a bluidy tiger 

I* the inn that day. 

V. 

There, try his mettle on the creed, 
An' bind him down wi' caution, 
That Stipend is a carnal weed, 



worthy Mr L. lo the Laigh Kirl 
f Genesis, ch. ix. ver. 
t Numbers, ch. xxv. v. 
§ Expdjts, ch. iv. ver. ! 



ft out-owre the dale, 



Nae mail by Babel's streams -we'll weep, 

To think upon oar Zion ; 
An" hing oar fiddles ap to sleep, 

Like baby-clouts a dryin' ; 



Cur Patron, 1 



But steek your gab for ever ; 
Or try the wicked town of Ayr, 
For there they'll think iou clever; 



To fry them i 

Bat now his ho 

Yii' a' his bi 



See, see auld Orthodoxy's faes, 

She's swingin' through the city ; 
Hark how the nine-tail'd cat she plays ! 



XIL 

But there's Morality himseF, 
, Embracing a' opinions ; 
Hear, how he gies the tither ye! 



POEiWS, 

Between his 



Now there- thej're packed aff to hell, 
An ' banish 'd our dominions, 



From this time forth Con 

Or Patronage intrusion, 
Ve'll light a spunk, an' ev 
"We'll rin them aff in fusi 



iir, but then we'll find, 



Yon 


e'ers 


hould be 


a Slot • 




Tho', 


when 


some kir 


d, connubial Dear, 


Yon 










The I I 










Ado 


Lie he 


ad of ho 






And, i 


1JOUI 


lug, mc 


st revere 


nd James, 


To h 










Few n 






1 doult 




Tor 


q]e a 


nang th 


nowte. 




And w 


ienj 


're num 


beredw 


' the dead, 


Belo 




assy hil 






V,V u 








ur head- 


•He 




a famous Bollock!' 



* New Light is a cant phrase in the West of 
Scotland, for those religious opinions which 
Dr Taylor of Norwich has defended «> strenu- 
ously. 



ADDRESS TO THE DEIL. 

O Prince ! O Chief of many throned Pow'rs 
That led the embattled Seraphim to war. 

MiUon. 



Spairges about the brunstan 
To scaud ] 

Hear me, auld Hangie, f. 
To skelp an' scaud poor dog 



Great is thy pow'r, an' great thy fame ; 

lr lcend and noted is thy name : 

1' tho' yon lowin' heugh's thy hame, 

Thou travels far ; 
1* faith: thou's neither lag nor lame, 



Whyles, ranging like a roarln' lion, 
For prey, a' holes and corners tryin' ; 
"Whyles on the strong-winged tempest flyin' 

Wbyles, in the human bosom pryin', 
Unseen thou lurks. 

I've heard my reverend Graunie say, 
In lanely glens you like to stray ; 

Mod to the moon, 
Ye fright the nightly wand'rer's way, 

When twilight did my Graunie summon, 
To say her prayers, douce honest woman ! 
Aft yont the dyke she's heard you bummin ! 



Wi' you, mysel', I gat a fright, 

Ayont the lough 
Ye, like a rash-bush stood in sighi 



The cudgel in i 
Each bristled hai 
When wi' an eld 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

An' dawtet, twal-p 



Let Warlocks gri 


n, an' wilher'd hags 


Tell how wi' you on 




They skim the nnt.r 




...... , W 


' wicked speed ; 



When thowes dissolve the snawy hoord» 
An' float thejinglin' icy-boord, 
Then Water-kelpies haunt the foord, 

By your direction, 
An' nighted Travelers are allured 

To their destruction. 

An' aft your moss-traversing Spunkies, 



niry slough he sunk 
ons' mystic word at 



I 


an- syne, 


in Ede 


's bonnie yard. 


WI 


en'youlhf 




» first were pair'd, 




all the so 










The 


raptured hour, 


Sw 


et on the 


- 


flowery swaird 






Ins 


hady bower : 


Then yon, ye auld, 


snic-drawing dog ! 


Ye 


came to P 












cursed brogue. 






(Bl 


ck be your fa'!) 


An' 


gied the i 


'Ma 


rid a shog. 


D 


ye mind that day 


wheninabizz, 


\\ i 








Ye 


did presen 


-%l 


mouti'e phiz 
ng belter folk. 


An 


sklented c 


nthem 


anofUz 






Your spitefu' joke. 


An' 


how ye g 


thimi 


your thrall, 








ouse an' hall. 


WI 






hes did him gall, 






Wi 




An' 


lowsed h 










Was warst ava ? 


But a' jonr 


doings 


o rehearse, 


Yoi 






fechtin' fierce, 














Down to t 














In prose or rhyme. 


A 


n' now, a 


old Cloots, I ken ye're IciiiHv 










Some luc) 










To j 


our black pit ; 



BURNS POEMS. 



Bui faith '. he'll turn a col 

But, fare ye weel, auld i 

O wad ye tak a thought an 

Ye aiblins might _1 „i,.,.a 

Still hae 

I'm wae to thiuk upon yoi 



DEATH AND DYING WORDS 



POOR MAILIE, 
THE AUTHOR'S ONLY PET YOWE. 



My dying n -rJ,ar ( i 



at to my Master dear. 



To scores o' lambs, an 


packs 


t < Tell him, he was a 


master 


An' aye was guid to me 




An' now my dying c!.a 


'' ' ' 


My helpless lambs I tru 




> ' bid him save the! 


harm 


Frae dogs, an' tods, an 




But gie them guid cow- 


': iik ll 


Till they be lit to fend 




An' tent them uulv, c-V 




W'i' teats o' hay an' ri 




• An' mav they never 


learn 


Ofith-rvile, wanrestfi. 




To slink through slaps, 






tncks 


So may they, like their 


P-^ 


For mouy a year come 







My poo 


toop-1 




Aii 


if heh 


T.ci 


To 


pit som 




Au 






To 












Li 


e ither mensele 






Now, honest Hitghoc, dinna fail 



POOH MAILIE'S ELEGY. 



* A neebor herd-callan. 



Poor Mailie's dead! 

It's no the loss o' warl's gear, 
That could sae bitter draw the tear, 
Or mak our bardie, dowie, wear 

The mourning weed t 
He's lost a friend and neebor dear, 
Iu Mailie dead. 

Thro' a' the town she trotted by him 
A lang half-mile site could descry him ; 
Wi' kindly bleat when she did spy him, 

nigh hi 



She ran w 

A friend mair faithfu' ne'er 
Thau Mai. 

I wat she was a sheep o' 

An" could behave hersel' w 

I'll say 't, she never brak a 

Thro* thU 

Our bardie, lanely, keeps tli 



Comes bleating to him, owre the knowe, 
For bits o' bread ; 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Fo 


her fo 


bears we 


e brought in 






Fr 




At 


onnier 


fleesh ne ' 


an Wailie de 




Vaewo 


rth the m 


in wha first 


Th 




wanchan 


ie thing—a 


It tnaks f 


id fellows 








W 




An 


Robin 










Fo 


r Mailie dea 


0, a' ye 


bards on 


bonnie Doon 






n Ayr yoi 


r chanters tu 


Co 


ne, jo: 


the mela 








0' 


Robin's ree 


Hi 


heart will never 


get aboon 



TO J. SYME. 






up sublime 
Wi' hasty summon; 



Something cries « Uoolie ! 
I red you, honest man, tak tent ! 

Ye'll shaw your folly. 

* There's ither poets, much your betters, 
Far seen in Greek, deep men o' letters, 
Hae thought ihey had insured their debtors, 

Now moths deform in shapeless tetters, 
Their unknown pages.* 

Then farewell hopes o' laurel-boughs, 

Henceforth I'll rove where busy ploughs 

An' teach the lanely heights an' howes- 

I'll wander on, with tentless heed 

TiTfa'te'shall snap the brittuAhrea'd ; 

Then, all unknown, 

I'll lay me with th' inglorious dead, 



But why o' death begin 

Then top and maintop cro 
Heave c< 
And large, before 



, tale ? 



hale, 



Let's Uk' the t 
ie far's I understand, 



Where pleasure is the magic wand, 

That, wielded right, 

Maks hours like minutes, hand in hand, 
Dance by fu' light. 



r, weary, joyless eild, 

Wi' wrinkled face, 
stin', hirplin', owre the field, 



gloamin'. 
Then farewell vacant careless roamin' 
An' farewell cheerfu' tankards foamin 

An' social noise; 

An* farewell dear deluding woman, 

The joy of joys! 



OLife! how pleai 
Young Fancy's rays .... u,..» , 
Cold pausing Caution's lesson 

Like school-boys, at the expec 



And haply eye the Darren hat 

*' With high disc 

With steady aim, some Fortoi 

Thro' fair, thro' foul, they urge 

Then cannie in some e. 



An' others, like y. 
Poor wights ! nae r 
To right"-'"' 



They zig-zag on ; 



My pen I here fling to the door, 
And kneel, < Ye Pow'rs !' and warm implor 
' Tho* I should wander terra o'er, 



Grant me 


bat this, I 


ask no o 


sore, 




Aye 


rowth 


»' rbjnies. 


•Giedr 


eeping roas 




ntra lairds 


TiU i:icir 


hing frae 






Gie fine b 




line lif 


-guards, 








f honour : 


An' yill a 










Un 


il they 


Conner. 



« A title, Dempster merits it ; 

garter gie to Willie Pitt ; 

;e wealth to some be-ledger'd cit, 



I'rhyme'aw'ayf 1 ' 066 ' 

O ve douce folk, that live by rule, 
Grave, tideless blooded, calm and cool, 
Compared wi' \ou — O fool ! fool ! fool \ 
How much anlike! 

Your lives, a dyke I 

In'your unleuered name^'VacesT*' 
Iii arioso trills and graces 



.POEMS. 

Ye are sae grave, nae dou 
Nae ferly tho' ye do despise 

Therattlin 
I see you upward cast your e 






Whilst I— but I shall haud me there— 
Wi' you I'll scarce gang ony where- 
Then, Jamie, I shall say nae mair. 

But quat my sang, 
Content wi' you to mak a pair, 

Whare'erlgang. 



A DREAM. 

Thoughts, words, and deeds, the statute blames 

[On reading, in the public papers, the Lau- 
4, 17S6, the author was no sooner dropt 



Juid mornin' to you 
May heaven augm, 



By mony a lord an' lady, 
' God save the King' 's a cuckoo sang 
That's unco easy said ajej 


Wad' 
Bat 


ar you irow \e ne'er do wrang, 
aye unerring steady, 

On sic a day.' 


Form 

Eve 
Forn 

Saen 
. Yoi 
There 


IIL 

e ! before a monarch's face, 
n there I winna flatter ; 
ither pension, post, nor place, 

e reflection on your grace, 
r kingship to bespalter; 

aiblins ane been be:ter ' 



i very true, my sov'reign king, 



To rule this mif 



To rule this mighty nation I 

it faith ! I inuckle doubt, my Sire, 



Wad better nll'd theii 



Xa'f 


lb! I fear, 
ortly boost 


that wi' tb 




1' the craft 


ran 


mistrastin 


VIL 

• WiUie Pi 



3 CABINET LIBRARY. 

?, him* at Agincourt wha bhjrc, 
And yet wi' funny queer Sir John.t 
For monie a daj. 

XIL 

For you, right rev 'rend Osnabrug, 
Nane sets the lawn-sleeve sweeter, 

Altho' a ribbon at your lug 
Wad been a dress completer: 



XIII. 

fonng royal Tarry Breeks, 
Ye P ve lately come athwar 



.ard your grapple aim, 
Come full that day. 
XIV. 



lieu, my Liege ! may freedom ge 



In loyal true affection, 
To pay your Queen, with due respect, 
My fealty an' subjection 

This great birth-day. 



'.'■jesty! Most Excellent ! 
While nobles strive to please ye 
Willyeacceptaco.nplirne.it 

Tt,o Q y, nnn ! a hnivnlimo. Wiwv'n tin; 



But some day ye may gnaw your nai 
An' curse your folly sairly, 

That e'er ye brack Diana's pales, 
Or rattled dice wi' Charlie, 

By night or day. 



Yet aft a ragged cowte's been knovi 

To mak a noble aiver ; 
So. ye may dousely fill a throne, 



Fu' clean that day. 



THE VISION. 



Hie sun bad closed the winter day, 
I he curlers quat their roaring play, 
i.u' hunger'd mankm ta'en her way 

While faithless snaws^'lk'slep^eTray' 
Where she hr.s been 



* King Henry V. 

f Sir John Falstaff, vide Shakspeare. 

? Duau, a term of Ossian'a for tile different 
divisions of a digressive poem. See his Cath. 
Loda, vol. ii. of M'Fherson's translation. 



burns — poe: 



car 



All ill thi 

I backward 

How I had spent my youthfu' pi 

But stringiu' bis 



thing, 
Ders up in rnjme, 
For fools to sing. 



Or strutted in a bar 

31 

■While here, half-m 



blockhead! coof! 



V,"hen click ! the string the sneck 
An' jee ! the door gaed to the wa' ; 
An' by my ingle-lowe I saw, 

Nowbleezin'bria 
A tight outlandisfc 



Ye need na doubt, I he 
The infant aith half-form 
Iglowr'daseerie'sl'db 



Come full in sight. 

ny whisht! 



Green, slender, leaf-clad holly bonghs, 
Were twisted gracefu' round her brows; 
I took her for some Scottish Muse, 

By that same token I 

Would soon bwrTbroken. 

A 'hair-brain'd, sentimental trace' 
Was strongly marked in her face; 
A wildly-witty, rusiic grace 

Shone full upon her ; 
Her eye, ev'n tnrn'd on empty space, 

Beam'd keen with honour. 



The lordly dome. 
Irwine stately thuds : 



Villi seeming roar. 
valley spread, 



Their southron foes. 

His Country's saviour,!- mark him w 
Sold Richardion's i heroic swell ; 
Tie chief on Sark s' v ho glorious fell, 



whom m 



Hisn; 



And he 

There, where a sceptred Pie 
Stalk 'd round his ashes lowly] 

In colours sir 

Bold, soldier-featured, undismj 
They strode i 

Thro' many a wild, romantic 



1 The Wallaces. f William 
: Adam Wallace of Ricbardto 

Wallace, Laird of CraiVie 
jnd in command, under Doug 
nond, at ihe famous battle on 1 
k, fought, anno 1448. That = __ 
f was principally owing to the judicions 
duct and intrepid valour of -he gallant 
rd of Craige, who died of his wounds after 

of the Picts, from whom the 



inks of 



.K P 



' the :.I.-.nt?Ll: 



i says, 



e family-seat 
of CoilsEeld, where hia 

it of the !a!e lord 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



With deep-strnek reverential awe,* 
The learned sire and son I saw, 
To Nature's God and Nature's law 

The> gave their lore, 
This, all its source and end to draw, 
That to adore. 

Brydon's brave ward I I well could spy, 



« All hail ! my own inspired bard 

No longer mourn thy fa;/i= bird. 
Tims poorly low 



' Know, the great genius of this 1 
Has many a ii-nt, aerial band, 
Who, all beneath his high commani 



They bind the wild poeti 
Or point the inconclusiv, 



\ Colonel Fullarton, 



The rustic Bard, il 

All choose, as varic 
1 

• When yellow v 



' Some, bounded to a district 
Explore at large man's infant r 
To mark the embryotic trace 

Of rustic Bar, 
And careful note each op'ning j 



Where once the Campbells, chiefs of fame, 

I mark'd th emh"o "nd^m"''' 
Thy natal hour. 



Thy rudely caroll'd, chiming phra 
Fired at the simple, artier lays" 






" 




Struct thy , 


oung eye. 




' Or when t 

Warm cherish 


I 


deep-green mantled earth 
ev'ry (low 'ret 's birth, 
c pouring forth 




I saw thee eye 


th 


With bound 


ess love. 




« When ripe 

Call'd forth th 
I saw thee lea 

To vent thy ho 


so 


1 6elds, and 

n's swelling 
In pensive w 


izttre skies, 
ng noise, 

alk. 




' When you 
Keen-shive'riu 


g 


alefuUoThy 


blushing stro 
tongue, 


b 


Those accents 





I taught thee how 



to pour in song, 
To soothe thy 11 ami 



BURL'S.— POEMS. 



■" I saw thy pulse's maddening play, 
Misled by Fancy's meteor ray, 



11 my wide doni! 
Thy fame exu 



• Yet all beneath th* unrivall'd ros< 
The lowly daisy sweetly blows: 
Tho' large the forest's monarch throw 

His army shade, 
Yet green the juicy hawthorn grows, 
Adown the glade. 

« Then never murmur nor repine 5 
Strive in thy humble sphere to shine ; 
And trust me, not Potosi's mine. 

Nor kings' regard, 
Can give a bliss o'ermatching thine, 

A rustic Bard. 

' To give my counsels all in one, 
Thy tuneful flame still careful fan ; 
Preserve the dignity of Man, 



1 bound the holly round my hea 



ADDRESS TO THE UNCO GUIQ, 
RIGIDLY RIGHTEOUS. 



And lump them aye thegitb 

The Rigid Rijhteous is a fooi 

The Rigid Wise auilber : 



rule, 



And still the clap plays ( 

IL 
Hear me, ye venerable con 

That frequent pass douce V 
Forglaikit Folly's porta 

I, for their thoughtless, ca 
Would here propone def. 



And shudder at the niffer, 
Jut cast a moment's fair re. 
"What maks the mighty di 

That purity ye pride in, 



What ragings must his veins c 

That .tul eternal gallop : 

Wi' wind and tide fair i' your 

Right on ye scud your sea-w 



O would the/staj J'calcufa'te, 

Th' eternal consequences ! 
Or your more dreaded hell to state, 

VI. 
Ye high, esaltet", virtuous dames, 

Tied up in godly laces, 
Before je gie poor frailty names, 



The 


gently s 


can your bro 


therm 




11 gentle 








they ma 


' gan.sr a kt 














-,..;;ii m, 


st still be gr 


atlv d 




..- moi::i^ 


why they d 








nely can ye 


•-:z-:k, 




wfarpe 


haps they n 
VIII. 


eu. 




made th 


heart, 'tis 




D, 


cidedly can try us, 





Eacksprillg-ilsvariou 
"hen at the balance UVs 1 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



What's done we partly m 



eafh, she's dearly pale 



While by their nose the te 

Like onj 

Death's gien the lodge an 



Wha will tbsy 



Since d 


rk in de 


And gleds fo 
ath's fash-cree 
Tam Samson 


greed, 


Rejoice, ye birring paitricks 

Ye cootie moorcocks crousety c 

Ye maukins, cock your fuds fu 

Withouten d 

Your mortal fae is now awa', 

Tam Samson 


'a dead ! 


That 
Sawhii 


rstt 


tin" graXad 


jurn'd, 



*■ When this worthy old spor 



million. 


; ..„ 




Hi 


n Si 


inza I 


Another 


preacher, 






t.v.ou 




few, who 








ix! 


I'W I, 


also the Ordination 




za. 





Frae couples f 
aed and ne'er re 



Till e 


v. an] e 




him jumpir 






Wi'de 


adly feid ; 


Now he procl 




ut o' trumpet, 






Tam S 


amson's dead! 


Wl 
He re 
But j 


en ath 


s heart he felt the dagger. 




w the inor 


le swagger, 






Wi' w 




«L-< 


, five! 


he cried, 
Tam S 


n' owre did stagge 


Ilk 


hoary fa 


inter mour 


'd a brither ; 


Ilk sp 






oan'd a father ; 


Yon a 


uld £1 -ei 










Marks 


ut his head, 


Wbar 


a Burns 




n rhyming blether, 






Tam S 


mson'sdead! 



Tam Samson's dead. 



When August winds the heather wa 

Tnree^ o^eys en leTh"sme b m• : ry ,> cfa r v^ , 

Till Echo answer frae her cave, 

Tam Samson's dead 


Heave 


n rest his sa 


I, whare'er he b 


He had 


Ye 

, honest ma 

Ta 


mae than me : 
maybe three, 
what remead ? 

n Samson's dead 




THE EPITAPH. 



PER CONTRA. 



,*.,* 



HALLOWEEN. * 

[The following poem will, by many I 

of those who are un-.cquainted wilh tl 
nets and traditions of the country wl 
scene is cast, notes are added, to gii 
account of the principal charms and i 
that ni»ht, so big with prophecy to t 
santry in the wist of Scotland. T 



One uative charm, thau all the gloss of ai 
Goldn 

I. 

upon that night, when fairies light, 

Or owre the lays, in splendiu blaze, 

On sprightly coursers prauce ; 

II. 

Aroang the bonnie winding banks 
Where Doon rius, wimplia', clear, 

Where Bruce § ance ruled the martial ran 
An' shook his Carrick spear, 

Some merry, friend.y, countra folks, 



n the neighbourhood of the anc 
Earls of Cassilis. 
noted cavern near Colean-hou 



favourite haunt for fairies. 

§ The famous family oft 
cestors of Robert, the grs 
country, were Earls of Car: 



is Dow- 
, thean- 



eelly kythe 



it at night. 
)' the tail. 



They roar an' cry a' throu'therj 
rhewry wee things todlin', rin 

ln» gifthe custoc's sweet or sour, 
Wi' joetekgs they taste them ; 



Hegrippetlfellyhardan' 

Bot her lop-pickl* mai,t '.', 

Wbenkiuttlin'in the fa 

Wi' him 



|| The first ceremony of Halloween, is poll- 
; each a stock, or plant of kail. They must 

11 Ihefirst they meet with: Its being big or 



lellation, the 
e the head of 
;s of the peo- 



1 They got 



riFyofplacingtherut 
barn-yard, and pull ea 



third stalk wants the top-p.ckle, that is, the 
grain at the top of the stalk, the party in 

thing but a maid. 
** When the corn is in a doubtful state, by 

means of old timber, &c. makes a large apart- 

which is fairest exposed to the wind ; this he 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



, „ 










5 id 










■nly: 














III 






Fu 


' hl 


jh that 


tight 



Jean slips in twa wi' 



Mall's nit lap out wi' pridefu' fling, 

An'herainfit it brunt it ; 
tVhile Willie lap, an' swoor by Sag, 

•Xwas just the way be wanted 
To be that night 

X. 

Nell bad the fause-house in her rnia', 

She pits hersel* an' Robin; 
la loving Meeze they sweetly join 

Till white in use they're sobbin' : 
Nells heart was dancin" at the view, 

She whisper'd Rob to look for't: 
Rob, stowlius prie'd her bonny mou, 

Fu' cozieinthe neuk for't, 



But Me 


ran sat 




t the 


r ba 


is 




Her thoughts 




ndrei 


Bell ; 




She lea 


es them 










teks, 


Ands 




byh. 










She thr 














An' t 


the Ki 


i she 


-ues 


hen 






Audi 


*Zfi 




e r th 

lit tea 


r"l 


i: 


light. 


*Bu 

They na 


nine; ti- 
me the 
they 


h'j" 


ihei:i 


a fa 


the 






,ly as 






qu 






and'isVa 


from b 


tur 


= hip 


not 
vill 




the "course 



naud Wha h'auds ? i. e. wh, 
er will be returned from tl 
ning the Christian and sirna 



To spier that nigi 
XIII. 
Wee Jenny to her graunie says, 

" Will ye go wi*nie graunie ? 
I'll eat the apple: at the glass, 
I gat frae uncle Johnie :" 

lVwrathrhe'was^aVlr'ri'n'' 



■ Ye little skelpie-limmer's fac< 
How daur ye try sic spoitin', 
s seek the foul Thief ony place, 



' Ae hairst afore the i 
I miud't as weel's y 
was a gilpey then, I 



u JUS 



a Halloween 

It fell lhat night. 

XYI. 

itibble rig was Rab M'Graen, 



* Take a candle, and go alone to a looking, 
glass j eat an apple before it, and some tradi- 
tions say, you should comb your hair all the 



j Steal out unperceived, and sow a handful 

i then, ' Hemp-seed I saw thee ; hemp-seed 

e-love, come after me and pou thee. ' Look 

appearance of the persou invoked, in the atti- 



lelf: in which case it simply appears. 
ers omit the harrowtug, and say, • come 
r me, and harrow thee. ' 



after me, 



BtKNS.-POE.MS. 



A.n' out a handfu' gied hi 



« Hemp-seed I saw thee, 

An' her that is to be my la: 

Come after me, and drav 



He whistled up Lord L 

Hew^saefle^Un' 

Till presently he hears i 



.da peck; 
down the pock, 



He swcor 'twas hilchin Jean M'Craw, 
Or crouchie ;>;erran Humphie, 

Till stop ! she trotted thro' tliern a' ; 
An' wha was it but Grumphie 

Asteer that night 1 


Wh.'.e, in a wiel it dimpl't : 
Whyles glitter'd to the nightly rays, 

Unseen that night. 


To win three wech.s o' naething 5* 
She pat but little faith in : 


XXVL 

Arnar.g the brackens, on the brae, 

Between her an' the moon, 
The deil, or else an outler quey, 






* This charm must likewise be performed 
unperceived, and alone. You go to the barn, 
open both doors, taking them off the hinges, if 


f Take an opportunity of going, unnoticed 
to a bear-stack, and fathom it three time 
round. The last fathom of the last time, yo 



,e mischief. Then 
r dialed 



i lie i 



call a 



Rer ;Ef 



:..'K 



t three times; a 
the third time an apparition will pass throu 
tie barn, in at the windy door, and out at t 
other, having both the figure in question, a 
the appearance or retinue, marking the e) 
plojnient or station in life. 





Fu' fast t 


The ho 'ten 


XXIII. 

Will, vvi'sa 


Then hecht 
It chanced the 

He taks a swi 


him some fine 
stack he fadd 
-prapt for thi 



conjugal yoke-fellow. 

i You go out, one or more, for thi 
social spell, to a south running spring or 
let, where ■ three lairds' lands meet, ' an 
your left shirt sleeve. Go to bed in sight 
fire, and hang your wet- sleeve before it to 

apparition having the exact figure of the g 
object in question, will come and turn the e 
as if to dry the other side of it. 



tie's heart maUt lap the 
.v'rock-height she jumpit 
d a fit, an' in the pool 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

An' set weel down a shapely shank 
An' could hae flown out-owre a stank, 



indev'ry. 



XXVII. 

rs three x are ra 
ne great care is I 






wedlock' 

oom-dis'h th 
n the fire, 

xxim 

I wat they didna w< 



and fun: 



i*i_. 



AULD FARMER'S 
EAR MOESDCG SALUTATION T 
AULD MARE MAGGIE, 



Thou could hae 



He should 
Thou ance was V the foi 



Out owre tie lay. 

>u's dowie, stiff, and crazy, 

applt, sleek, an' glalzie, 

A bonnie gray : 
tight that daur't to raize thee 



blindfold a person, and lead him to the 
where the dishes are ranged : he (or si 
the left hand ; if bv chance in the clean 
the future husband'or wife will come to 
of matrimony a maid ; if in the foul, a - 
if in the empty dish, it foretells witl 



But namely, tawie, quiet, an' cannie, 

That day, ye pranced wi' muckle pride, 
Aji' sweet an* graeefu' she did ride, 
Kyle Stewart I could bragged wide 

Tho" now ye dow but hoyte an' hobble, 

ThatTay' ye wLVj inker noble, 6 ' 

For heels an 'win'! 





Fj, 


far behin'. 




houan 


Iw 


re young and si 


eigb, 










wad i 


ranee 




kreigh, 


jdiesr 




' s nod abeigh, 





ooses thou had" ne'er a fellow, 

For pith an' speed; 

very tail thou pay't them hallow, 
AVhare'er thou gaed. 



x Scotch miles the 
hip nor epi 



Hae turned sa 



;ar'tthemwhaizle: 

On guid March weather, 
rood beside our han', 
For days thegilher. 



ou never braindg't, an' fetch't, an'fliskit, 
hy auld tail thou wad hae whiskit, 
pread abre^d tbv weel-filled brisket, 
Wf'pithan'pow'r, 
Till spritty kuowes wad rair't an* risket, 



When frosts lay lang, an' sn: 

gement ! I gied thy cog a wee bx heap 

Aboon the tim 
nilk id i I ken'd my Maggie wadna sleep 



BURNS.— POEMS. 



My pleugb is now thy bairn-time a' : 
Forbje sax mae, I've sell't Bwa, 

The vera warst. 
Monie a sair danrk we twa hae wrouj 

We wad'be beat ! 
Yet here to crazy ase we're brought, 



cozie here beneath the blast. 

Till crash ! the cruel coulter past 

Out thro' thy cell. 



s cost thee mony a weary nibble ' 

« thou's turned out, for a' thy trouble, 



lii' lea'e us non-Mtut^irf and 



A heapit sfimpart, i 



— ' ! 



A WINTER NIGHT. 



TO A MOUSE, 



Wi' bickering bral 

elaith to rin an' chase thee, 

Wi' murd'ring paltle ! 



What then ? poor leas'.ie, thou m 
A daimen icier in a throve 

I'll get a blessin' wi' the lave, 

And never miss*: 

It's silly wa'sthe win'i 
J.d' naething, now to big a new ai 
O* foggape greer 
An' bleak December's winds ensui 



\our houseless heads, and unfed 
andwindow'd raggedness, defend 
5 suck as these ?—Shakspcare. 



! Sharp shivers through the leafless bow'r; 
When Phffibus gi'es a short-lived glow'r 

Far south the lift, 
Dim-darkening through the flaky show'r 



Ae night the s 



Or through the m 






List'ning, the doers an' wir.noeks rattle, 

Cr=iiU sWp, v,l:.i Lue his brattle 

O' winter war, 
And through the drift, deep-lairing sprattle 



Ilk happing bird, wee, helpless thing, 
That in the merry month o' spring, 
Delighted me to hear thee sing, 

What comes o' thee f 
Whare wilt thou cow'r thy cheering wir 



TculTro^onrT^^llZ^eJu^ ' ' .' 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Now Phebe, in her midnight reign, 
Dark muffled, viewed the dreary plain ; 

en on my ear ^ " o!e au liols— 

• Blow, blow ye winds, with heavier 

And freeze, ye bitter-biting frost; 

Descend, ye chilly, smothering snows ; 

Not all your rage, as now, united, shoi 
Wore hard unkir.dness, unrelenting, 
Vengeful malice unrepenting, 

Than heaven-illumin'd man on brothe 

See stern Oppression's iron grip, 



Truth weeping, tells the mournful I; 
How pampered Luxury, Flatt'ry by hi 



lordly use thus far, thus vile, 
re is Love's fond, tender throe, 



"While thro' the rugged roof, and chinky wall, 
Chill o'er his slumbers piles the driftj 

Think on the dungeon's grim confine, 



Andh 


nil'd the morning with a cheer, 


Ace 


ttage-ronsing craw, 




Butd 
Thr 


en this truth impressed m 
a'' all bis works abroad, 


niir.il— 


Theh 


art benevolent and kind 




The 


most resembles God. 






EPISTLE TO DAVIE, 




A BROTHER POET 


* 




Jan 


ary 


While 


winds frae aff Ben-Lomo 


nd blaw. 


And b 


ar the doors wi' driving s 




And 


hing os owre the ingle, 




I set me doi 




Al In S ) 


lin a verse or twa o' rbym 
amely westlan' jingle. 


e ' 






drift 








I grud 


f livVsae beifand Itu^i 


ift. 


I 








Their ro'omy fireside ; 




B 

It's h 


To see'their cursed pride. 

IL 

ardly in a body's pow'r 




Toke 






To 






How 


coofc on'co S umi e ess b tnousa 




Whil 










But, Davie, lad, ne'er fash you 


head, 


We'r 


we nae lime gear, 
fit to win our da ly bread 




As 


Auld age ne'er mind" a feg 


',t 


The las 






Is only for to beg. 






in. 




To lie 


in kilns and barns at e'en 




When 


banes are crazed and blu 


d is thin. 


• Is, 


doubtless, great distress ! 




Yetth 




s blest ; 


Ev'n 






Of 


ruest happiness. 




Theh 
Jnte 


onest heart that's free frae 


*' 


Howe 


er fortune kick the'ba', 




Ha 


aye some cause to smile ; 






ill, 




A comfort this nae snia* : 




A 


ae mai.r then, we'll care 
Nae farther can we fa' 

IV. 




What 








But 


either house or hall ? 





BURN'S POEMS. 



lys wben daisies deck the ground, 
d blackbirds wbistle clear. 



And centre in the 


breast, 


We may be wise, or 




But never can be 




Nae treasures, 


lor pleasure 


Could mak u 




The beart aye's 




That makes u 


s right or w 




VI. 


Think ye, that sic a 


s you and I, 



Then let ns cheerfu' acquis 



Byp,. 


no 


at our state ; 






And, eve 




lould misfortune 




I here w 










An'st 




kfu' for them ye 








th 




nth; 


















ns see the naked 


truth 




The re 










Tho 


h 








B 


le 


ssons right sever 






The 






;et th 




Y 




find nae other v, 

vni. 


here. 




But ten* 




, Davie, ace o' 1 






(To say 










Andfl 




ry I detest) 






This l.fe 




s joys for you an 


i: 




And joys 


th 




uldbo 








the very best. 






There's 










The lo 










Vc have 




rMeg, your dea 






And I 


>-: 


darling Jean! 







y weary days, 

■ you ! 

e with a friend, 

11; 



O, how that name inspires my style ! 
The words come skelpin' rank an' fil< 



THE LAMENT, 



Beneath thy wan umvarming beam ; 
How life and love are all a dre'aui. 



The faintly marked distant hill : 



m7n 



DIAUOKD CABINET LIBRARY. 



No idly feign'd poe 



The plghied faith ; the mutual fla 
The oft-attested Powers above ; 

The promised Father's tender nat 
These were the pledges of my lo 



How have I wishM for Fort 
For her dear sake and he.- 
And must I think it ? is 



she gone, 
tog boast ! 
ir my groan I 
Jit! 


Olife! 


ne down and sigh : 
thou art a galling loud 
rough, a weary road, 


.aheart, 


Dim ba 
V.-ha 

What s 
Tooj 


sickling scenes appe 
rrows yet may pierce 
stlylmayfear! 


W' n, i 


Sti 





My fondly-treoi 






it I must suffer, lingering, slow, 
nany a pang, and many a throe, 





Till. 






And when m 


nightly cone 






Sore haras 






and grief, 


My toil-beat 
Keep watc 






ghtly thief: 






Or if IsluniD 


,r, C f,nc;, ci 








gard wild, i 




re affright ; 


Ev'nday, al 








From siich 


IX. 


':h 


ng night. 


! thou brig 


lit queen, wh 












boundIe5s P s a 


Oft has thy s 




g 




Observed u 


3 fondly wane 




ng, stray : 



DESPONDENCY: 






Happy, ye sons of busy life. 
Who, equal to the bustling strife. 
No other view regard 1 



h^sofment^ 

A faint-collectedTrt 

White praisih?, a 

His thoughts to 

As wand'ring, m, 

He views the sc 



BURNS POEMS. 



But ah ! those plea; 

Which I too keen 

The solitary can des 



COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT. 

INSCRIBED TO R. AITKEN', ESQ. 



Oh! enviable, early days, 
When dancing thoughtless 

To care, to guilt uukuow 
How iil exchanged for ripe 
To feel the follies, or the ci 

Ofothersorinyown: 



Let mot 
Iheir 

Nor grandeur! 



rt but simple annals of th 



With hon 



My loved, my honour'd, much respected 
friend, 

his homage pays; 
scorn each selfish end : 
a friend's esteem ana 
praise : 
To you I sii tish lays. 

The lowly train iu life's seuuester'd 

The native feeling 

What Aitken in a cottage wor 

Ah! tho' his worth unknown, far 



the guileless 



The wintry w 
Or, the storm 



November chill blaws loud w 



Let others fear, to me more dear 

Than all the pri^-ufA!^ : 

My e g"Fe e fs it Jems' to join," "^ B ° U ' 
The leafless trees my fancy please, 



:e bit ingle, Hiukin* bonnily, 
clean hearth-stane, his thriftie w 

ping infant prattling on his knee 



irm, 1 rest, they must be best, 

use they are thy will ! 

II I want (O. do thou grant 

one request of mine!) 

o enjoy thou dost deny, 



Belyve the elder bail 



: p.eugb, some herd, so 

rrand to a neebor town ; 
: hope, their Jenny, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Comes hanie, perhaps, to show a bra' ae\ 
gown, 
Or deposit her sair-won penny fee, 
To help her parents dear, if they in hardshi 



The social hour 

Each tells the 
The parents, p 



Tells how a neehor 
To do some er 

The wily mother se 

Wi' heart-struck ai 

AVhile jenny ban 
Weel plea ; 



s care, inquires E 



Wi 



Till. 



l strappin youth; he taks the mother's 

Blithe Jenny sees the visit's no ill ta'en ; 
The father cracks of horses, pieughs, and 
kye. 
The youngster's artless heart o'erflows wi' 



I've paced much thi6 weary mortal round, 
And sage experience bids ine this declare. 

' If Heaven a draught of heavenly pleasu 
spare, 
One cordial in this melancholy vale, 

In other's arms breathe out the tend 



I there, in human form, that bear: 
A wretch '. a villain 1 lost to love 



.with studied, sly, ens 


aring art, 


sweet J 










.. 


oih! 






:,r.,ir, v 


rtue, conscienc 


= aU exiled ? 



But now the supper crowns their sii 
board, 
The halesome parritch, chief o' Sco 



The dame brings forth in compli 
mood, 
To gTace the lad, her weel-hain'i 

An' aft he's prest, an' aft he ea's it 2 

XII. 

The cheerfu' supper done, wi' serious face, 
They, round the ingle, form a circle 

The sire turns o'er, wi' palriarchal grace. 
The big ha'-Uible, aace hi£ father's 

His bonnet rev'rently is laid a=ide, 

His lyart haficts wearing thin an' bare : 

And 'Let us worship God I' he says, with 

bey ch: 

They tune their hearts, by far the noblest 

Perhaps Dundee's wild warbling measures 

Or plaintive Martyrs, worthy of the 

Or noble 'Elgin beets the heav'n-ward 
fiame, 
The swea;est far of Scotia's holy layi ; 



BURNS ] 

ded ears no heart-felt raptures 
iae they with our Creator's praise. 



The 



XIV. 

father reads the s 
How Abram was the friend 



high; 



red page, 
; God on 



:rnal warfare wage 
nngracious progeny ; 

jard did groaning lie 
ke of Heaven's avenginj 

Or, Job's pathetic plaint and wailing cry ; 



Or, Hos, 

With A 
Or how tl 



Or, Job's pathetic plaint and wailu 

Or rapt Isaiah's wild, seraphic fii 

Or other holy seers that tuue the sacre 

XV. 

Perhaps the Christian volume is the 

How guiltless blood for guilty r 

shed; 

How He, who bore in h 



the second 
j his head ; 



1 Patmos banished, 
mighty angel stand ; 
Ion's doom pronounced 



XVI. 

Then kneeling down to Hea 

King, 
The saint, the father, and 

prays : 
Hope < springs exulting on 

That thus they all shall n 



Compared with this, how poor Religioi 

In all the pomp of method, and of art, 
When men disDlav to congregations wide, 






thepagf 

at haply, 'in some cottage far apart. 
Way hear, well-pleased, the languag< 

is book of life the 

xvnr. 






Then homeward all take off their sev'ral 
The youngling cottagers retire to rest, 
And proffer up to Heav'u the warm re- 

That He who stills tie raven's clam'rons 
And decks the lily fair in flow'ry pride, 



* Pope'- 



Windsor Forest. 



That makes her loved at home, revered 

Princes and lords are but the breath of 
kings, 
•* An honest man's (he noblest work of 
God!" 
And certes, in fair virtue's heavenly road, 

The cottage leaves the palace far behind ; 
What is a lordling's pomp! a cumb'rous 

Disguising oft the wretch of human kind, 
Studied in arts of hell, in wickedness refined • 

XX. 

O Scotia ! my dear, my native soil, 



7lZltTio7:: 


^berti; 


ulace may rise the 
11 of lire around tb 


I^'much- 


XXI. 




'd thro' Wallace's 


undaunted 


nob'y stem tyranni 
e, Ihe second glorio 
God, peculiarly the 


pride. 



WAN WAS MADE TO MOURN. 



i thirst of wealth thy step constra 
■ youthful pleasure's rage ! 
haply, prest with care, and woei 

rander forth, with me to mourn 



Where hundreds labour I 
A haughty lordling's p 



DIAMOND CXBINET LIBRARY. 

This partial view of humai 

Is surely not the last ! 
The poor, oppressed, hone 



O man ! while in thy early years, 

How prodigal of time ! 
Mispending all thy precious hours S 

Thy glorious youthful prime ! 
Alternate follies take the sway ; 

Wh^tenfoirforMgivYNature'slaw, 
That man was made to mourn. 



Look not alone on youthful prim. 

Or manhood's active might ; 
Wan then is useful to his kind, 

Supported is his right : 
But see him on the edge of life, 



Man's inh 
Makes c 

See yonde 
So ahjei 
Who begs- „,* 



Ands< 



krdh f. 



lindfulllio' a wt 
id helpless offsp 



Disturb thy voathful bi 



ome the hour my aged limbs 
The great, the wealthy, fear thy blow, 
lut Oh ! a blest relief to those 



} thou unknown Almighty Cause 
Of all my hope and fear ! 

In whose dread presence, ere an ho 
Perhaps I must appear! 



If I have wander'd in those paths 

Of life I ought to shun : 
As something loudly, in my breast 



Thou Unow'st that Thou bast 

With passions wild and str< 

And lisl'uing to their wi.chiu. 



STANZAS 
ON THE SAME OCCASION. 
Vby am I loath to leave this earthly 
Have I so found it full of pleasing 
lonie drops of joy with draughts of ill ba- 



j And justly smart b;neath his siu. 



c abode ? 



EURNS. 

Fain would I say, ' Forgive my foul of- 



Again I might desert fair virtu 



O Thon great Governor of all belcuv 

If I may dare a lifted eye to Thee, 

Thy nod can make the tempest 



Fcr all unlit I feel my pow Vs to 

To rule their torrent in th' alio 

O aid me with thy help, Omnipotei 



LYING AT A R 



O Thou dread Pow'r 



Tiie hoary sire — the mortal stroke 
Long, long be pleased to spare. 

To bless his little filial Cock, 
And show what good men are. 



Their hope, their stay, their darling youth, 

In manhood's dawning blush ; 
Bless him, thou God of love and truth, 



The beauteous, seraph sister-band, 



When soon or late they reach that cqast. 



THE FIRST PSALM. 
life wherever placed, 



Hath 




in 


store. 


Who wa 




th 




Norle 


arns their 


S« 


ilty lore • 


Nor fron 


the seat 


,f 


cornful pride 


Casts 


orili his 




abroad, 




humility 






Still « 


alks Lefo 


el 


is God. 


That ma 


n shall fit 




sh like the tr 


Whic 


by the s 




mlets grow ; 


The fruitful top is 


sp 


ead on high 


And 11 









THE NINETIETH PSALM. 

Thon, the first, the greatest Frieud 

Of all the human race! 
Whose strong right hand has ever beea 

Their stay and dwelling place ! 

Before the mountains heaved their heads 

Beneath thy forming hand, 
Before this pond'rous globe itself 



Those mighty periods of years, 

Appear do more before thy sight, 
Than yesterday that's past. 

Thou gav'st the word : Thy creature, it 

Again thou say'st, ' Ye sons of men, 
Return ye into nought!' 

Thnu layest them, with all their cares, 

In everlasting sleep ; 
As with a flood thou tak'st them off 

With overwhelming sweep. 

All wither'd and'decay'd. 

TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY, 



1 CABINET LIBRARY. 

Such is the fate of si 
On life's rough ocean 1 
Unskilful he to note th 



Alas ! it's no thy neehour s 
The bonny Lark, companion 
Bending thee 'mang the dew; 



Cauld Hew the bilter- 
Upon thy early, humble 
Yet cheerfully thou glim 



Till she, like thee, al 



Low i' i he- diss'.. 



Till billo 


,srag 


, and gales blow hard 
And whelm him o'er I 


Sochf 


letos 


uffering worth is given, 


Who long with 
Till wrench'd o 


V r TuZ a ?dTh,£ slnv 


Even t 
That fate 
Stern Ru 

Till crus 


bou who mourn 'st the Daisy's fa 

Full on thy bloo'm, 

'd beneath the furrow's weigh!, 

Shall be thy doom ! 






— 






TO RUIN 


All hail ! 

Them 
Thy erne 


- 


I. 

delighted train, 



The storm no m 



I court, I beg thy friendly aid, 

To elr 5S this scene of care! 
When shall my soul, in silent peace, 



And you, t 



nfant year to 
In Edwin's simpli 



BURNS. -POEMS. 



and faithless km 
i PS eac°h loveV rm 



EPISTLE TO A YOUNG FRIEND. 



ang hae thought, my youthfu' f.iend, 
*. something to have sent you, 

Ihan just a kind memento; 

it how the subject theme may gang, 

Perhaps turn out a sermon. "' 



Ye'U try the w; 

And, Andrew 

Ye'llfiudinank 



Yet they wha fa' in fortune's strife 
Their fate wc should iia censure, 

For still the important end of Ill's 
They equally may answer. 

Tho' poortith hourly stare him ; 



Wi' sharpen'd sly inspection. 



The hazard of co 

But och ! it hardens a' w ithi. 
And petrifies the feeling '. 



And gathe 
That's j 


gear by e 


v'ry nil*. 
honour ; 


Not fort J 






Nor for 




ndant; 


But for th 




privilega 


Of being 


iudepend 






VIII. 


The fear o 


' hell's a 


tangman's whip, 


To haud 


the wretc 


h in order; 


But where 


ye feel jo 




Let that 












Debar a 






And resolu 


tely keep i 




Uncarin 


g consequences. 



But still the preaching cant forbeai 



ON A SCOTCH BARD 



le bonnie lassies weel may miss him, 

widows, wives, an' a' may bless hin>» 

wse! I *al they'll sailly misshim 4 
That's owre the isi. 



MOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



e, they hae room to grumble ! 
ta'en aff some drowsy bumme 
) nought but fyke an' fumble, 



Eut he w 

Auld, c 



An' 

;'er was gi'en 



FaTewsel, my rhyme-composing bill 
111 toast ye in my hindmost gillie, 



TO A HAGGIS'. 

Fair fa" your honest, sonsie face, 
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race, 
Aboon them a' J^kycmr glace, 

Weel are ye wordy of a grace 

As lang's my arm. 

The groaning trencher there ye fill, 
Your burdies like a distant hill, 
Your pin wad heln to mend a mill 

While thro' your pores the dews distil 
Like amber bead. ' 

' His knife "see rustic labour d'ght, j 
Au* cut you up wi' ready slight, 
Trenching your gushing entrails bright, 



Then horn for horn they stretch an' 
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive, 
,' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve 



Looks down wi' sneeri 
Ons 


jerfect sconner 


Poor devil ! see him 
As feckless as a wither 
.sspinue-s an ^ 

Thro' bloody flood or 1 
Oho 


eld 10 dash, 
* unfit ! 



Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your c 
And dish them out their bill o' fare, 
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking war 

But, if ye wish her gratefu' pray'°r, 
Gie her a Haggis 1 



A DEDICATION. 
TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ. 







ca'youguid, 


An' spru 




i' noble bluid, 




eluted'wthc 


™*f LiS graCe 


Then wb 






Wi' mon 


V a fulsome, 






'ace, how I 




For fear 


our modesty 


be hurt. 


Thism 


ay do— mau 


a do, Sir, wi* th 


Maun pie 
For me ! 
For, lor 


sss 


folk for a wame 
eedna bow, 
I can plough; 




•d^eXnk 


e a naig. 


Then, Lo 
Sae I sha 


Lay, and! 




It's just 


ic poet an' 


ic patron. 


ThePc 


et, some <*u 


d angel help him 


Or else, 




1 ane skelp him j 


He may c 


o weel for a 


he's done yet, 


But only 


he's no just 


begun yet. 


TheP 


iron, (Sir 


ye man forgie me 



a than he should b® 



BURNS — POEMS. 



TV'har* no bis am he winna tuk It : 
What ance he says he winna break it; 
Ought he can lend he'll no refuse'l, 
Till aft his goodness is abused ; 
And rascals whyles that do him wrung, 



But then, nae thanks to him for a' 
Nae godly symptom ye can ca' that ; 
It's naething but a milder feature, 
Of our poor, sinfu', corrupt nature 






r , rbou deadly bane, 



Abu>,e a brother to his back ; 

But point the rake that laks the door : 

Ply every art o' legal thieving ; 

Learn three mile pray'rs, an' lialf-iuili 

And damn a' parties but your own ; 

A steady, sturdy, staunch believer. 

O ye wha leave the springs of Calvin, 
For gumlie dubs of your ain delvin ! 

Ye '11 some day squeel in quaking terror ! 
When Vengeance draws the sword in wraih, 



While o'er the harp pale Misery moan 
And strikes the ever-deep'ning tones, 
Still louder shrieks, aud heavier groan 



Your pardon, Sir, f 
I maist forgat my dedi 
But when divinity con 



But I maturely thought it proper, 
When a my works rdid review. 
To dedicate them, Sir, to you : 
Because (ye need na tak it ill) 
I thought them something like your: 



a that's a word I Deed na say l 
ra baith dead-3weer, an* wretched 



Laugh 
Till II 
Arc Ira 
r-Wb, 


eetl 




nencal flam 
ml labours r 


s. 


Mas lie 
Till hi 
The la. 


al'lh 


ir ti 
pen, 




■3 weel, 

ays: 
all'flow, 


Iwi 


not 


mini 


a lang conclusion, 






Butif(whichPow'rsi 

That iron-bearted carl, 1 
Attended in his grim advi 
By sad mistakes, and bla 
While hopes, and joys, a 
Make you as uoor a doe a 
Your numb 



id pleasures fly Iiiin, 



d humbly se 
poor man's hope 
collection's powe 
•vale of humblel 



But by i 

The vict 

I, thro' the tender gushing tear, 

It friendless low we meet together'. 

Then, Sir, your hand— my friend and brolherf 



TO A LOUSE, 



Ye ugly, creepin', blastit wonner, 
Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner. 
How dare you set your fit unon her, 

Sae fine a'lady ! 
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinne*, 

On Gome poor body. 

Swith, in some beggar's haffet squattle ; 
There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattre 
Wi" ither kindred, jumpin* cattle, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Now haud you there, ye're out o' 0igl 
Below the fatt'rils, snag an' tight: 
Na, faith ye yet ! ye'll no be right 

Till ye've got ou it, 
The very tapmost tow'ring height 

O' Miss's bonnet. 



Wad dress jour drodduc 



ising o'er the rugged rock » 
repelTd tn' invader's shock* 



k thought and pitying te 



wer the giftie gie 

me a blunder free 
And foolish not 



ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH. 



EtRna! 


Scot 


a's darling seat ! 


All ha 




palaces and towers 


Where o 




eneath a monarch' 


Satle 








rrking wildly scattered 11 


And sine 
Ishel 


thebi 


uks of Ayr I stray 


erl'i 


ihy honour'd shade 






II. 


Here wealth s 


ill swells the golde 


As bus 




e his labours plies 


There ar 






Bidse 






Here jus 






High 




her balance and he 


There le 


irning, wit] 


Seeks 


cien 


e in her coy abode. 
IIL 


Thy son. 


, Ed 


na, social, kind, 






Their vi 






Above 






Attentive 






Or modest D 




Andnev 






And n 




nvy blot their name 



Thy daughters bright thy walks adorn 
Gay as the gilded summer sky, 

Dear ai the raptured thrill of joy 1 



VII. 

Wild beats my heart to trace your sU| 
Whose ancestors in days ot yore, 

Thro' hostile ranks and rumed gaps 
Old Scotia's bloody lion bore : 

And laced grim danger's loudest roar, 
Bold following where your fathers 1 

VIII. 

Edina! Scotia's darling seal I 

Sat' legisTation I; s a s , ove a rei 1 g n a p r o wers " 

from marking wildly seatler'd flower 

As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd, 



EPISTLE TO J. LAPRAIK, 



I pray excuse. 
l we had a roekin' 



POEMS. 
That wad be lear eneugh fur 



Thought I, ' Can this be Pope, or Steele, 




Or Beanie's wark ?' 


Now, Sir, if ye hae friends enow, 


They tauld me 'twas an odd kind chiel 


Tho' real friends, I b'lieve, are few, 


About Muirkirk. 


Yet, if your catalogue be fou, 


It pat me fidgin-fain to hear't, 


But gif je want ae friend that's true. 


I'm on your list. 






He had ingiue, 




That nane excell'd it, few caai near't, 


As ill I like my faults to tell ; 




But friends, and folk that wish me well, 




They sometimes roose me, 


That set him to a pint of ale. 


Tho' I mann own, as monie still 




As far abuse me. 


Or rhymes an' sangs he'd made himsel', 






There's ae wee faut they whyles lay to me, 


'Tween Inverness and Teviotdale, 




He had few matches. 


For monie a placMhey^vheedl^frae me 


Then up I gat, an' swoor an aith, 




Tho' I should pawn my pleugh an' graitb. 


They weel can spare. 


Or die a cadger powuie's death, 




At some dyke back, 


But Mauchline race, or Mauchline fair, 




I should be proud to meet you there ; 


To hear jour crack. 


We'se gie ae night's discharge to care, 




If we forgather, 


But, first an' foremost, I should tell, 




AinaU as soon as I could spell. 


Wi'ane wither. 


: , ■...; .-..:..... _■ - 




The four-gill chip, we'se gar him clatter, 


Yet crooning to a body's sel' 




Does wcel eneugh. 


Syne we'li mi down an' Ink our whitter, 



at just a rhymer, like, by chance, 
»■ hae to learning nae pretence. 

Yet, what the matter? 



You wha ken hardly vers: 

Tomak 

But, by your leaves, my 1 



Ye'd better tae 


W 

up 


pades 


»;our 


A set o' dnll cone 

They gang in stirks, 

PI 

An' syne they think 


o Clin 


shes, 

■~ ola 

i'to's- 
b Par? 
Urec 


Gie me ae sp 
That's a' the le 
Then, tho' I dr 


£ = 


Xatur 


b's Sre 



May touch the heart. 



O for a spunk o' Allan's g 
Or Ferguson's, the bauld an< 
Or bright iapraik's, my frie 



Awa, ye selfish warly race, 

Ev'n love and friendship shou 
To catch the 
I dinna like 



hear your cr 

Mho hold your being on th< 
' Each aid 
Come to my bowl 



the others, 
, come to my arms, 
.My Iriends, my brother; 

to conclude my lang epistle, 



lut, to conclude my lang epistle, 

a my auld pen's worn to the grissle: 

Utile I con either sing, or whissle, 
Your friend and ser>- 



TO THE SAME. 
aprh 21, 1785. 
While new ca'd kye rout at the stake. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

ir wi'.h weary legs. 



My awkwart-muse sair pleads and begs, 

The tapetless ramfeezl'd hizzie, 
She's saft at best, and something lazv, 
Quo' she, • Ye ken ye've been sae busy 

This month an' ma r. 
That trouth my head is grown quiie dizz 

An' something sair. ' 

Her dowff excuses pat me mad ; 
• Conscience,' says I, ' ye thowless jad 
I'll write, an' that a hearty blaud, 

This vera night; 
So dinna ye affront your trade, 

But rhyme it right. 

• Shall bauld Lapraik, th( 
Tho' ruankinc 

Yetye'llnegl 



ick o' c 






An-ifyewinnamak'Ttclinkr 61 

By Jove, I'll prose it!' 

Sae I've begun to scrawl, but whether 
In rhyme, or prose, or baith thegither, 



My worthy friend, ne'er grudge a 



Ne'er mind how Fori 



h 

i 




1 c.'"„..L 
by the L 

augh, at 


triddle 

S 'as 




e J a n; ; 
should b 
art pow, 

>*sl dow 


yi 




N 


>w comes 


thesa 


.an 


d twentie 


ih 



bud upo' the 

Still persecuted by the limmer, 

Frae year to ; 

But yet, despite the kittle kinin 

Do ye envy the city Gent, 

Eehint a kist to lie and sklent. 

Or purse-proud, big wi' cent. t 

And muckle i 

In some bit brugh to represent 



Wha thinks himself nae sheep-shank bane. 
But lordly stalks. 

While caps an' bonnets aff are taen, 
As by he walks : 

' O Thou wha gies us each guid gift ! 
Cie me o' wit and sense a lift, 
Then turn me if Thou please adrift 



For thus the royal mandate ran, 
' The social, friendly" houesfmari, 



wers o* the ragged Nine. 
Poor glorious devils ! yet may shin 
In glori 



May in some future carcase howl 

The forest's fright ; 

Or in some day-detesting owl 

May shun the light. 



Still closer knit in friendship's ties, 



SbouldTbut'dare a hope to sp'eel, '- 
Wi' Allan or wi« Gilbcrtlleld, 

The braes of famrj 



BURNS POEMS. 



(0 Fergnss 


on ! thy gloric 


us parts 


111 suited lav 














Ye E'nbr 




The tithe o' what 3 






Wad stow 


'd his pan 


Yet when 


tale comes i' 


my head, 


Or lasses gie 


T'relik'e'rob" 






my dead, 



A.ld C'oila now may Use fu' fain : 
She 's gotten poets o' her ain, 
Chiels wha their chanters winna hai 
But tune their lays 
Till echoes all resound again 



Nae poet thought her 



Beside New-Holland, 
Besouth Magellan. 



win, Lugar, Ayr, 1 
Nae body 

lissus, Tiber, Than 



O Nature! a" thy shown 

To feeling, pensive hearts h 

Whether the summer kind* 

Wi'" life a 

Or winter howls in gusty st 






Black lien 


d infernal ! 


ighlandmen hate 
orlan' herds like 

Diurnal t 


tolls and ta 
guid fat bra 


In Robert 


BurnT"" 


POSTSCRI 




.ory'snowortha 


preen ; 


By this 11 


(hey mean 



Bout which our 
In days when mankind 

But spak their tl:,-.„-h,V ■ 



Gaed past tbeil 
They gat a lie 



An' muc 


tie din there vas 
Baith lo 


Sk^. 




Some 


erds, weel learu 


d upo' (be b 


aik, 


For *twa 


An' out 


o- sight, 





She grew mair bright. 
is deny'd, it was affirm 'd ; 






DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 
Will send you, Kor 



Nae doubt the auld-light flocks are blea 

^^ ' Vee ' en wt"gir e nTn ? s e pi't'e n , 

To hear the moon sae sadly lie 'd on 

By word an.' write. 

But shortly they will cowe the louns ! 

Axe miad't, in things they ca* balloons. 
To lak' a flight, 

An* see them right. 

Guid observation they will gi'e them • 



a this clatter 
onshine matter: 
k Latin splatter 



EPISTLE TO J. RANKINE. 



O Rough, rude, ready-witt 
The wale o* cocks for fun a 
There's monie godly folks .- 



Straight to auld N 
Te ha'e sae monie cracks an' can 



ocrisy, in mercy spare it ; 



Tttttf 


'" 


obe,Odio-n 


a tear it ! 






Spare 


ttur 


Thel 


wha aften we 
ids in black ■ 


arir. 




But J 


urct 


rstwit, »h 
Rives 


u it comes n 


ck.'" 




Tfi 


ik, v 


icked sinne 


, wha ye 're 


rt tilth 




It's = 


-t th 


3 blue-gown 


lea ? e\hemi 






0' sa 


juts; 


tak that, y 


let a. 


S 



ang >T ye'll S£ 



to neglect 



■eplaj'd. 



ly spread her wiu| 
bonnie spring, 
__ ' danc'd raj till! 
,'d better gaen and sair'd the king 
At Bunker's Hill. 

'Twas ae night lately in mj fun 

m' brought a paitrick to the grun, 



, as the twilight was begu 
Thought nan 


e wad ke 


Hie poor wee thing was littl 


e hurt ; 


raikit it a wee for sport, 
'er thinkin' they wad fash 

nebody tells the po'acher-co 


ne for't ; 



f A song he had promised the Author. 



BURNS — POEMS. 



Tho' I should herd the buckskin kye 
For't in Virginia. 

Trowth, they had meikle for to blame ! 
■Twas neither broken wing nor limb, 
But twa-tllree uraps about the warae, 

Scarce thro the feathers ; 
An' baith a yellow George to claim, 

An' thole their blethers ! 



When timers expedie. 



JOHN BARLEYCORN,* 



John Barleycorn shuub 



But the cheerfu' s[ 
John Barleycorn p 



They filled up a darksome pit 

With water to the brim ; 
They heaved in John Barleycorn, 



They wasted, o'er a scorching flame 

The marrow of his bones ; 
But a miller us'd him warst of all, 



He faded inlo age; 
And then his eueiiiie- besran 



VIII. 

They laid him down upon his 
And cudgel'd him full sore; 



A FRAGMENT. 



An' li^lB \M 



lown Lowl 

And Carl 

But yet, wl 



Poor Tommy Gage, wit] 
Was kept at Boston h. 

Till Willie Howe took o 
For Philadelphia, ma 



90S DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

Wi' Bword an' gun he thought a atn 

Guid Christian blood to draw, man j 
But at New-York, wi' knife and fork, 



Then Montague, an' Guildford too, 

Began to fear a' fa', man ; 
;•,,„] Sackville doure, wha stood (be si 

The German chief to thraw, man ■ 
Poor Paddy Burke, like onie Turk, 

Nae mercy had at a', man ; 
An' Charlie Fox threw by the box. 

An' lows'd his tinkler jaw, man. 

VI. 

Then Rockingham took up the game ; 

Till death did on him ca', man ; 
When Shelburne meek held up his ch 



They did his measures thraw,* 
For North and Fox united stocks 


Then clubs an' bea> 
He swept the sta 

Till the diamond's 
Led him a sair/a 

The Saxon lads, wi 


VII. 

ts wcreChar 

ce of Indian 


On Chatham's bo 

And Scotland drew 

••Up, Willie, w 


y did ca*, ma 
lerp.pe, an' 


Behind the throne then GrenviUe 







Be-north the Roman wa', man : 
An' Chatham's wranh, in heavenly grailh. 



Jut word an' 
Gowft'd W 

Behind him 

u ' Caledon i 

"-' u!aka if 


low. North, Fox, and Co. 


The moorcock springs, on whirring wu.gs 

Amang the blu. 
Now waving grain, wide o'er the plain, 

Delights the weary farmer 1 
And the moon shines bright, whe l I n, 
night 

To muse upon my charmer. 






II. 




SONG. 


The partridge loves the fruitful felh : 
The plover loves the mountains : 


Tuns—' 


Corn Rigs arc Connie." 


The woodcock haunts the lonely dells ; 
Thro' 6 lofty gfove^the^u'suat rove's 



lock'd her i 


imv 




lbrace! 


Her heart was b 




arely : 


ly blessings 






y place. 


Amang the 
Jut by the m 




y! 






so bii.fl) 


That shone 






clearly • 


he aye shall 






Pl'i •■"■■ 



The spreading thorn tun linnet. 



BURNS.— POEMS. 



man's joy, the murd'riug cry, 



But Peggy dear, the ev'ning's dear, 

Thick iiies the skimming swallow ( 
The skv is blue, the fields in view, 

All fading-green and yellow : 
Come let us stray our gladsome way, 

And view the charms of nature : 
The rustlin corn, the fruited thorn, 

Audev'ry happy creature. 



We'll gently walk, and sweetly talk, 

Till the silent moon a hii.e cickrl;. ; 
I'll grasp thy waisl, and, fondly pre: 

Swear how I love thee dearly : 
Not vernal show'rs to budding tiow'r: 

Nut autumn to the farmer, 
So dear can be as thou lo me, 

My fair, my lovely charu.er : 



where Stir.char flow 



The wesllan wind blaws loud an' shil 
The night's bailli mirk and rainy, t 

But I'll get my plaid an' out I'll stea 
An' owre the hiUs to Nannie, 0. 



But warl's gear ne'er troubles me. 
My thoughts are a' my Nannie, O. 



But I'm as blithe that hands b 
An' hae nae care but Nanni 


i.pleug.. 


YIII. 
Come weel, come wae, I care 

I'll lake what Heaven will 
\ae ither care in hfe have I, 

But live, an' love my Nann 


naby, 

en' me, O , 

e, 0. 



GREEN GROW THE RASHES. 






y fly them, O ; 
lej catch them fast, 
e'er enjoy them, O. 



Green grow, &c 
IV. 

The wisest man (he wsrld e'ersaw! 

He dearly lo'ed the lasses, O ; 

Green grow, &c. 



SONG. 
Tune— " Joekie's Grey B 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 





CHORUS.* 






And maun 


still on Meni 


t doat. 






the scorn that 




e? 


For it's jet 




it's like a 




And it wi 


ana let a body 

ir. 


bel 




In vain to me 










ethevtoletss 


wing ; 




In vain to me 


in glen or sh 






The mavis 


nd the lintwh 








And maun 


I still, .Si 






III. 






The merry pi 


ughboy cheer. 


his team 




YW joy the 


teutie seedsm 


a stalks; 




Bi.t life to me 








A dream of 


ane that never 








And maun 


I still, &c 






IV. 








oot the water 


kims, 






reeds the duck 






T- e stately sv 
















And maun 


I still, & 






V. 






The shepherd 


sleeks his faul 


3in=- slap. 




And ow.e t 




!,,-.;-»,; 




Wi' wild, un 


equal wanderii 
















And maun 


I still, & 






VI. 










ght and d 






ens by the da 








id sings on 11 






Awae-wor 


ghaisf 1 h-,N, 








And maun 


I still s ° & 






VII. 






Come, Wir.te 








And raging 


bend the nake 












ul, 


When natu 


re all is sad lil 


eiuel 






I still on Jiern 






Futlr^" 


J. 1 ! oia'cl!,'™ 


;;;;;;;; 


hawk 


An* it w 


una let" a 'body 


be.r 




* This cho 


us is part of a 


aong com 


posed by 




i Edinburgh, 


aparticula 




ol the author 










a common abb 




f Mati- 










; We can 






y of the 


p7i>UeYuX 


this chorus, 


e especia 

hill ; yet 


ly tho*e 




ion, should b£ 




to these 




as it perpetu 




upts the 




neut which th 







SONG. 
-" Roslin Castle.** 



The gloomy night is gath'ring fast. 
Yon murky cloud is foul wi' rain, 



te lonely banks of Ayr. 



Th 


eAa 


lima rr 


ourns her ripen 


3 : . , 


rly Winter 










.azure sky, 


■!>,- 






vlmg tempest flj 


CI, 1 




n, j hi 


od to hear it ra 


I thi 








Whe 








Far 


rom 


he bon 


nie banks of Ay 
III. 


Ti 






ging billow's ro 


Tis 








Thu 






ery shape appea 


The 




h.d Ij 




lint 


he" 




plc'rc'd wiTroa 


These ble 


-d aire 


h, those ties I t 






SONG. 
Tune—" Gilderi 



From thee, Eliza, I m 



Aiy heart and soul frum 



BURNS.— POEMS. 



THE FAREWELL, 

TO THE BRETHRE-V OF ST JAMES' 



j There, a big-belly'd bottle still eases my care. 



Companions of my social joy ! 
Thu' [ to foreign lands must hie, 



mil me 

I'll m 


Ld7ou^!i,Tho' b far 3f awa 9 '! e ' 




It. 


ft have 

J It 
Whic 


I met your social band, 
lat hieroglyphic bright. 



Hay freedom, harmony, and love. 



That \oa may keep lb' unerri 

Till order bright complexly si 
Shall be my pray'r when fa 



No churchman am I for to rail and to write, 
No statesman nor soldier to plot or to figln, 
No sly man of business contriving a snare. 
For a big-bellkd bottle's the whole of n 



And a bottle like this, are my glory and care. 

III. 

Here passes the squire on his brother — hi; 

There centum per centum, the cit wilb bii 



■ 

Viih a 


info 1 ;™ 

pursy 


d me lhal all was 
bottle that ended 


-JSB 


Life's 

1 

!y the 


aid dow 

bard, w 


VI. 


jmforlk 
U him, 


that wore 


ind fa 


S-LeTlV" 


lootl^e 


Aval! 


fofcar"! 


[A 


Stanza 


added in 


Mason 


Lodge.] 



ery true brother of ihe compass and 

quare, 

big-belly M bottle when harass'd with 



FRIAR'S CARSE HEUMITACE, 



Thou 


whom cha 




e ma w ^ berlead - 


lie li 








Grav 


these cou 




s on thy soul. 


Life is but a d 


ay 


at most. 


Spru 


- 




, in darkness los! ; 


lli.;,< 








Fear 


not clouds 


wi 


U always lower. 


As 


youth and 


ioi 


e wilh sprightly danc 


Hen: 


ath lliy mo 




lg star advance, 


P.ea. 


are v. .-.!■ 1. 






May 


delude the 




u ? h;less pair ; 


Let p 


rudence bl 






Thei 


raptured s 


p. 


and sip it up.' 


As 


thy day gr 


OW 


swarm and high. 


Life 




fla 


niing nigh, 


Lio=t 


thou spurn 


ih 




Life 






its wouldst thou scale 




k thy dim 


ing step, elate, 


K-..: 


lurk in fe 






1,21, 


ers, eagle 


r" 


ion'd bold, 


Soar 

\\ 111 


around ea 
e cheerful 


li 

pe. 


liffy hold, 

ce, with linnet song, 


Chi 


ts the low 




ells among. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY, 



o long repose : 

y-neukofease, 
with sober thought, 



itter mock'ry of (he pompons bier. 

While down the wretched vital part is driven 1 

The cave-lodged beggar, with a conscience 

Expires in rags, unknown, and goes to Heaven. 



As thou tin self must shortly find. 

Say, to be just, and kind, and wise, 
There solid self-enjoyment lies ; 
That foolish, seifiah, faithless ways, 
Lead to the wretched, vile, and base. 

To the bed tf lasting seep'; " 

Night where dawn shall never break," 
T.l', future life, future no more, 
To light and joy [he good restore, 
To light and joy unknown before. 
Strangr-r. go: Heaven be thy gu de ! 
Quod lire beadsman of Kith-side. 

ODE, 



Pity's flood thi 
See those hanc 
Hands that too 
Keeper of Man 



Tis thy trusty quondam mate, 
Doom'd to share thy fiery fate. 
She, tardy, hell-ward plies. 



CAPTAIN MATTHEW HENDERSON, 



urse was bright! 
le glorious sun, 
<-nlj light I 



O Death ! thou tyrant fell and bloody ; 
The u.e;We devil V,i> a woodie 
Uaurl thee name to his Hack smiddie, 
O'er hurcheon hides, 
Aud like stock-fish come o'er his studdie 



it dawn, wher. ev'ry gTassv blade 
:n P= with a diamond at its head, 
ev'n, when beans their fragrance sh. 
I' lh' rustling ruT, 
Te maukins whiddin thro' the gladf, 



BURNS POEMS. 



\ Mourn, sooty coots, and speckled teals, 

Ye duck and drake, wi' airy wheels 
Circling tlie lake ; 



^ "'imj^erj" 

WTiaiu we deplori 
ae your ivy bow'r. 



O rivers, forests, hills, and plains ! 

Oft have ye heard my canly strains : 

But now, what else for me' retrains 

But tales of woe ; 

An' frae my eeu the drapping rains 

Mourn, spring, thou darling of the yea 



For through yo 


Ive'er t 


' S remrn, hiSfl '' Sh 


Henderson 


! the ma 


i, the brother! 


Like thee, whe 


- : - - 

Life's i 
e shall I 
The wo 


rid around l' 


Go to your sc 

In a' the tinsel 

And weep the a 


ulplured 

st turf 1' 
Thoun 

e best fell 
E'er la 


ombs, ye great, 
dearth. 



THE EPITAPH. 

Stop, passenger! my story's brief ; 

Aud truth I shall relate, man : 
I tell nae common tale o' grief, 



Yet epuru'd at fortune's door, I 



Fu 


r Matth 


wwas 






man 


Ifth 


uonm 


n, thei 


rw 


ark 


and 














Here 






ad 






Fo 


r Matthe 


wwas 




ight ma 


Ifth 


u at fri 

ad life i 


■ 


S" 


Z 


if 


Thy 


ympath 








fa'. 


For Matthe 


wwas 


ak 


iid 


man. 


Ifth 


>u art st 


mnch witb 


out 


asta 


Li 


e the u 


chang 








This 












Fo 


r Matth 


wwas 


at 


Us 


tnau. 


Ifth 


5- hast 




ft 




ndfi 














This 


■.-.astir, 










Fo 


r Matth 


wwas 


aq 




man 


If on 


y whi<*g 


shwh 


"g 


TSC 


fj 


To 


blamep 


-or Ms- 








May 








his 




Fo 


r Matthe 


w '.Taj 




ira 


man. 



LAMENT OF MARY QUEEN OF 



Out o'er the grassy lea: 
Now Phoebus cheers the crystal streams, 

And glads tbe azure skies ; 
But nought can glad the weary wight 



nlov 




out 


ley rejoice, 


Wi' 


care nor 


jrall 


oppress d. 


fowl 


looms the 


lily t 


y the bank, 


The 




low. 


the brae ; 


heh 




budd 


ng in the glen. 


A:vi 








lii n 




din 


fair Scotland, 




rove thei 








the Qnee 


i",fa 


' Scotland, 


Mau 


n lie in p 


ison 


trang. 


was 


the Queer 


o'b 


nnie Franca, 


\--L 


ere happy 




been; 


a' li 




I in 


the morn, 




- 


lown 






m the so 




i of Scotland, 


'aV 






thsje; 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



ter a 6 nd myfae* 
lgeance, jet, shall w 



My son ! my son 1 may kinder stars 
Upon thy fortune shine: 

ThTfL'cr^aV'biin'k of'mine! " ' 
God keep thee frae thy mother's faes, 

Or turn their hearts to thee; 
And where thou meet'st thy mother's frie 

Remember him for me ! 

Nae mair light up the morn ! 
Nae mair, to me, the autumn winds 

Wave o'er the yellow corn ! 
And in the narrow house o' death 

And the next flow'rs that deck the epring, 



TO ROBERT GRAHAM, Esq. 



No heels 


to bear 


No claws 


to dig, 


No horns 




And thos 


', alas! 


No nerve 


s olfacto 


Clad in r 





The haDless poet flounders on through life. 
Till fled each hope that once his br-som fired, 
And fled each muse that glorious once in- 



So, by some hedge, the generous i 



(Nature is adverse to a cripple's rest ;) 
Will generous Graham list to his poet's wail ? 
It soothes poor misery, hearkening to her 

tale.) 
And hear him curse the light he 6rst survey V, 

Thou, Natnre, partial Nature, I arraign ; 
OF thy caprice maternal I complain. 



d wasp, victor! 



and hedge-hog in their 



Bat Oh! thoubitte 



Lies sens 


less oF eac 


i tugging bitch's son, 


Oduln 


ss !_ portio 


n oF the truly bless'd ! 


Calm she 




ioF eternal rest! 


Thy sou, 




ost, or torrid beams. ' 






tills the golden cup, 


With sob 






Conscious 


the boun 


eous meed they well de- 


They onTv 


wonder, 


some Folks' do not etar-e ; 


The gray 


sage hern 


thus easy picks bis frog. 


And thin 







• that fools are Fori 






. , left us darkling in a world of tears :) 
O ! hear my ardent, grateful, selfish prayer ! 
Finite, my other stay, long bless and span! 



Thre' «. long life his liopss ai 
And bright ia cloudless e 

May bliss domestic smooth hi 



The wind blew hollow frae the hi 

Look'd on tae fading j 

That waved o'er Lugar's wind 
Beneath a craigy steep, a bard. 



And as he toueh'd 



«• Ye scattered birds that faintly sing, 
The relics of the vernal quire ! 

Ve woods that shed on a' the winds 
The honours of the aged year ! 



Lie a' that would my sorrow share. 

" And last, (the sum of a' my griefs ! ) 
My noble master lies in clay ; 

The flower amang our barons bold, 

His country's pride, his country's stay 

For a' the life of life 1? d'eaS, 

And hope has left bt aged ken, 

On forward ning for ever fled. 

"Awake thy last sad voice, my harpi 
The voice of woe and wild despair ; 



And the 

ac tE 


;H 


law, rest, only frle 

mte from the bard 
it from fortune's m 


"Tnp 
Thic 

Tho' o 
Nae 1 


ver. ; . r 

1 Itm 

ay of 


low barren vale ; 

obscure, iovolv'd 
iM the wistful eye, 
ame was to be fom 



"O: Why has 
While villains 

Must thou, the i 
Fall in bold tr 

Why did I live I 



nember thee, Glei.ca 



TAM 0' SIIANTER : 



When ckapman billies 



An' gettin' fou an* unco happy, 
We think na on the lang Scots miles, 
The mosses, waters, slaps, an' styles 
That lie between us and our harce, 
Whare sits our sulky cullen dame, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



r>„.„ 


Jrank wi' 


HI,.-, p 




Tbou 




Orca 




BjAl 


owaj'sa 


Ah, 


"entle da 


To 111" 


Tk how m 


How 




The husband frl 


But 


to our tal 


Tiini 


ad got pi 



But pleasures are like poppies spread. 
You seize the flow'r, its bloom is abed ! 
Or like the snow-falls in the river, 
A moment white— then melts for ever : 



t'rort Ci'"' 



bild might understand, 
usineus on his hand. 

ed on his grey mare, Meg— 






g bold John Bar] 



But Ma'sg'ie sloe 
Till, by'the hee) 



Sae ctillon brent new frae France, 

Jut hornpipes, jigs, straihspeys, and reels, 
'ut life and mettle in their heels. 



A knife, a father's tbroal had mangled,, 



They reePd, they st<, they cro 


*,V, they 










Till ii. cariir. 5 '.vat and rce'iiit, 






And coost her daddies to the nark, 






And liuket at it in her sark ! 






Nan Tam, O Tarn ! had they be 


n qneens, 










The.r sarks, instead o' creeshie flam 






I>=ens..av;-white seventeen bunder 


iuen 1 




Thirbreekso'um.e, nr, o„: ; pair, 






'lUtauce were plush o'gu.d bluer 






1 wad hae gt'en them ajf im burns 






Fcr ae bliiik o' the bonaie Lurdies '. 






But wither'd beldams auld and d 


oil, 














r 


I wonder didna turn thy stomach. 






But Tam kenn'd what was whatf 


' brawlie 




There was ae winsome wench and walie. 




That night enlisted iu the core, 






itr"lo/:e e a k K e eiwod ^ ' 


I 














And shook baith mei!:!e corn an b~'a 






And kept the country side iu fear, i 






Hei- cut.;: _-„!:,. r.\l.-. nx, 












In longitude ' hough sorely scanty, 






























Wad ever graced a dance o' wilches 




■ 


Bat here my muse her win? maun 






Sic flights are''faVbe-.'uudher\:jwer 






To sing how Nannie lap and Bang, 






(A souple jade she was an' Strang) 






An' huw Tam stood like ane I- ■■',.- 






An' thought his v = rv e n e„ncl.V ■ 






Even Satan glowr'd and fidgM f u - 






And hotch'd and blew wi> might an 


lm'ain: 


C 








Aud roars on.', " Weel dj,"e Cat'..-. 






And in. n infant all was dark; 






UhenoTtChem^eg^s":}!^ 












^heu plundering herd, a=s ..! iLeir 












When, pop : she starts before their 












When " Catch the thief:" return! 












Wi' tuouie an eldr.tch screech and i 


ollow. 


Q 


Ah, Tam ! All, Tatn ! thou'll ret 


hyfairin. 




In he.l they'll roast thee like a herri 






In vain thy Kate awaits thy cumin ! 












Now, do thy speedy utmost. Me-, 






And win the key-staneo' the brig ;«- 






* It is a well known fact, that w 


tches, or 











BUKN3 — POGMS. 

them thou thy tail may Uai, 



Ilk man and motl 



?r of the wood and field. 



.r food, or pastime yiel 



No 
Th 


."X£ 


est, but now thy dy 
ig rushes whistli 


s 


bed! 


Thee 


oUearth 


with thy bloody bo= 


om 


press'd. 


Oft a 


by wind 

sober ev 
m.ss thee 
urse the 
hapless 


»,°or hail the cheer 


s 



,'hile virgin Spring, by Eden's flood, 
Unfolds her lender mantle green, 
r pranks the sod in frolic mood, 



fails in with bogles, whatever 



next running stream — It may be proper like. ' danger may be in his going forwai 
wise to mention to the benighted traveller, I much more k 



DIAMOND CABINET LJBRAR TT. 



While maniac Winter rages c 



FOR G. H. Esq. 
The poor man weeps -here G 



ON A NOISY POLEMIC. 
ihir stanes lie Jamie's banes : 



ON WEE JOHNNY. 
Wcjacel wee Johnny. 



FOR THE AUTHOR'S FATHER, 
ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains, 



A BAUD'S EPITAPH. 

Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule. 
And owre this grassy heap sing dool, 

it wTekly'this arel'throngr* "" 
O, pass not by ! 

, with a frater feeling strong, 

Here heave a sigh. 

i others teach 'the enurse to steer, 
. runs, himself, life's mad career. 



The tender father, 



gen'rous friend. 



it below, 

riendly glow, 



d— whether (hy si 

igllts beyond the p 



ON THE LATE CAPTAIN GROSE'S 
rs THROUGH SI 



FOR R. A. Esq, 



Frae .Moid 
If there's i 

A chield's 



That', he, mark weol— 



And ton ! he has an nneo sleight 



By some auld, houlet-haunted biggin. 
Or kirk, deserted by its riggin, 



;, they say, L— d safe's 



rik ghaist that haunts auld ha" or 
i'e gipsy-gang that deal in glamor, 
And you deep-read in hell's black gi 



It's tau'.d he was a sodger bred. 

But now he's quat the sporile blai 
And i 

1 think tbey call 

He has a fouth o' auld nicV-na. 
Rusty airn caps and jinglin' jacke 
Wad baud the Loihians three in t 



Of Eve's first fire he has a cinder : 
Anld Tubal-Cain's fire-shiol and fender 
That which distinguished the gender 

O' Balaam's ass; 
A broom-stick o' the witch of Endor, 

Weel shod wi' brass. 



Forbye he'll shape you aff, fu' gleg, 
The cut of Adam's philibeg ; 
The knife that nicket Abel's craig. 

He'll prove you fully, 
It was a faulding jocteleg. 



For meikle glee and fun has 

Then set him down, and tw: 

Guid fellos. 

And port, O port '. shine tho 



Now, by the powers o' verse and prose I 
Thou art a dainty chiel, O Grose ! 
Whae'er o' thee shall ill suppose, 

They sair misca' thee ; 
I'd take the rascal by the nose. 

Wad say. Shame fa' thee ! 



l* Vide hia Antiquities of Scotland. 
Weapons. 



POEMS. 

TO MISS CGUiKSHANKS. 



Beauteous rose-bad, young and ga 
Blooming on thy early May, 
Never may'st thou, lovely 'tiow'r, 
Chilly shrink in sleety show 'r ! 
Never Boreas' hoary path. 
Never Eurus' pois'uous breath, 
Never baleful stellar lights. 
Taint thee with untimely blights ! 



M 


y'st thou 


ong, 


•vee 


eri 




' 


m-" r 


sober 


*"l 


Dr 


p; - 








While all a. 












ill,. 


■■■"■:■■■ 














«■' 


ed thy dyi 


g L. 


our. 





A NEWSPAPER, 

THE DEATH OF JOHN M'LEOD, 1 
BROTHER TO A YOUNG I.ADY, A 

Sad thy tale, thou idle page, 

Death tears the 'brother of her love 
From Isabella's arms. 

Sweetly deck'd with pearly dew 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Dread Omnipotence, alone 

Can heal (he wound he t 

Can point the brimful grief 



ir no withering bias 



Mj' Lord, I know your 



ig-htly jumping glow 



In gasping d< 
st day I graf 



A panrgyr c rliyme, I wee,.. 
Even as 1 « as he shored me 



Here, roaming down the shelvy rocks, 
In twisting strength I rin ; 



lam, although Isay't mysel, 




ON SCAUING SOME WATI 


Worth gaun a mile to see. 




o^ocH-xutux; 


Would then my noble master please 




To grant my highest wishes, 






He'll shade my banks wi* tow'ring trees, 






And bonnie spreading bushes; 






Delighted doubly then, my Lord, 




Why, ye tenants of the lake, 


You'll wander on my banks, 






And listen mony a grateful bird 




Tell me, fellow-creatures, why 


Return you tuneful thanks. 




At my presence thus you fly ? 
Why distnrb your social joys. 


The sober laverock warbling wild, 




Parent, filial, kindred ties ? 


Shall to the skies aspire; 




Common friend to you and mc, 


The gowdspink, music's gayest child, 




Nature's gifts to all are free : 


Shall sweetly join the choir : 




Peaceful keep your dimpling wa 


The blackbird strong, the lintwhite clear. 






The mavis wild and mellow, 




Bide the surging billow's shock* 


• Eruar Falls, in Athole, ore exceedingly 


Conscious, blushing for our ra 












Man, your proud, usurping foe. 


riirohfl. 




Would be lord of all below; 



ufyelHw! 

shall insure 






Let lofty firs, and as 






The eagle, from the cliffy brow, 
Marking you his prey below. 
In his breast no pity dwells, 



In ihese savage, liquid plains, 
Only known to waad'ring swains, 
Where the mossy riv'iet strays : 



And lif 


-s poor 


season p 


aceful spe 


Or, i 


r man's 


superior 


mMif, 


Dare in 


•'••'i-'vc 




right , 


On the 


of t; . t , 






Wan w 


th all 1 






Swifll, 


seek, o 




i wi..g.. 



1 WITH A PENCIL 



■■■■■■ 
The palace rising on h.s verdant side. 
The lawns wood fringed in Nature' 



Lone wandering by the hermit':, mcssv cell 
The sweeping theatre of hanging woods ; 



.P0BM3. 2Zi 

Hera heart-struck Grief might beavsn-ward 
And Injured Worth forget and pardon nisn. 



WRITTEN WITH A PENCIL, 



Among the heathy hills and ragged woods 
The roaring Fyers pours his mos.i flv-.iU , 
Till full he dashes on the rocky mounds. 
Where, thro' a shapeless breach, his aire: 



POSTHUMOUS CHILD, 



Sae helpless, sweet, and fair 

November hirples o'er the lea, 

And gane, alas ! the shell'ring 
Should shield thee frae the 6 

May He who gives the rain io ; 



Fair on the summer morr 

Now feet!, tends she in thi 

Uusheher'daiid forlorn. 

Bless'J be thy bloom, thou 

Unscathed hy ruffian hau 

And from ihee many a pare 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 
THE WUISTLE: 



As ihe authentic prose history of the Whistle 

fe curious, I shall here give it In the train 

of Anue of Denmark, whea she came to Scot- 



t, the lord of the Cait 
lis poor godship us d. 



No tide of the Bait 



•d in war, 

victorious, the trophy has 
his house has for ages re- 
chieftains, and all of his 



pion of Bacchus. He had a little ebony 
Whistle which at the commencement of the 
orgies he laid on the table, and whoever was ^ ^ 

abled by the potency of the bottle, was to carry I . , , , 

off the Whistle as'a tro;.ky of victory. '1'he i Three joyous good fellows, with hearts deal 

■without a single defeat, at"tt,e en,r'h oi C n- ! Craigdarroch, so famous for wit, worth, and 

clirilen°ed\hVscouUac r cha»alia\"''io'7he n ^l- And gallant Sir Robert, deep read in old 

teruative of trying his prowess, or eUe of ac- I "ines. 

ove rThrowTL\ l he 1 V'"' f "f'°he'Scot^ l lh , e Dane Cr-igdarroc'i began, with a tongue smooth 

was encountered by Sir Robert Lawrie of ! a> uli . 

Maxwellon, ancestor to the present worthy I Desiring Gk i.rnjdei i a ;. ■.■■id up the spoil t 

baronet of that name; who, after three days Or else he would muster the heads of the 

a.id three nights' hard contest, left the Scan- ! cla "' 

dinavian under the table, ! And once more, m claret, try which was the 



id blew on the Whistle his requiem shrill. 



««By-thegodsof the a 

'■ C-.-for/; surrender bos 



aier, no speech would pre 
his back on his foe -or his 
the prize of th 



Ferguson, Esq. of Cr..ie;daiTucl., 1 k V-e .:- Said, To.s down tie Whistle, the prize of the 

scended of the great Sir Robert; which last ii^.-ld, 

gentleman earned oif the lia.-d-.^ja honour* of And knee-deep in claret, he'd die or he'd 

the field. yield. 



I sing of a Whistle, n Whistle of worth, 
I sing of a Whistle, ihe pride of the North, 
Was brought to the court of our good Scottish 

And long with this Whistle all Scotland shall 



Sen Ossian's Caric-lhura. 



To the board of Glenriddel our heroes re- 

p.ir, 

Li.. . i . u a,.c tot we.come not more known 



And wish'd that Parua=sus a vineyard had 

The dinner being over, the ciaret they ply, 
in the bauds of old friendship and kindred so 
And the bauds grew the lighter the more tbey 



f See Johns 



to the Hec 



BURNS — POEMS. 



And vowed lhat to leave them he was qui 

Six bottles a-piece had well worn out t] 
night, 
When gallant Sir Robert, to finish the fight 
Turn'd o'er in one Dumper a bottle of red, 
And swore 'twas the way that their ancesto 



Tiler 



orlhy Glen 



The gallant Sir Robert fought hard to the 

Bnl who can with fa;e and quart bumpers con- 
tend ? 

Though faie said— a hero should perish in 
light ; 

So up rose bright Phebus and down fell the 



" Craigda. 
But if thou 



SECOND EPISTLE TO DAVIE, 






Lang may your elbuck jink and did. 
fae cheer juuthroush the weary wi 
0» warly cares. 



* This is prefixed to the poems of David 
liar, published at Kilmarnock. 17S9. and 



Until ye fyke ; 

Be hain't wha like. 

For me, I'm on Parnassus' brink, 

Rivin' the words tae gar them clink ; [drink, 

Whyles daez't wi' love, whyles daez't wi* 

Wi'jads or masons; 
An' whyles, but aye owre late, I think, 

Uraw sober lessons. 

Of a' the thoughtless sons o' man, 



Leezemeonrbyme! its aye a treasur 
My chief, amais, my only pleasure, 
At baffle, a-liel', « wark or leiscre, 
The Muse, poor hizi 

lain., Davie 



The' rough at 



le the Muse, 






ON MY EARLY DAYS. 
it weel, in early date, 



An' tho' forfoughten 



E'en then a wish, I mind i 

A wish that to my latest he 

Shall strongly heave my 



But still the elements o' sang 
In formless jumble, right an" v. 

Wild floated in my brain : 
Till on that har'st I said befor. 



MON& CABINET LIBRARY. 
W increasing bias 



The palj moon rose in the li 
And 'mong the clifls di 

In weeds of woe that frantic 



i Maucbline ther. 



in or Paris they 



ur*s[ the jewel for 



SIR JAMES HUNTER BLAIR. 



treams, once hallow 'd 
ark the sacred fane. [] 



V The reader will find son 
t This 'is oneV our Bar, 



Wild to my hea 



"My patriot fall 
While empty 


, but shall he lie 
greatness sa^es a 


worthless 


N Tnd V f e uYurfage, 


hall join her tune 
hear his growing 


sir 1 ™' 


"And I will join 
Thro' future tin 

That distant y 

Blairs."— 

She said, and 


a mother's tender 
ars may boast 
vauish'd with the 


W% 



BURNS. -POEMS. 

the Mora la 



THE JOLLY BEGGARS : 



III- doxy l:r, will. in liis arm, 

WV usquebae an* blankets warm- 

She bliuket on her sodger : 
An' aje he gies the louzie drab 

Thetitherskelpiu' kiss. 
While she held up her greedy gab 

Ilk smack still did crack still', 
Just like a cadger's whip, 

Then staggering and swaggering 
He roar d this ditty up- 
Time- '< Soldier's Joy." 

I am a sod of Mars who have been in many 

And show my cuts and scars wherever I come; 
This here was for a wench, and that other in 

When welcoming the French at the sound of 

' Lai de dandle, .Sic. 



Lai de daadle, &c. 

III. 

a Curtis, among the 



ha;ipy with my wallet, my bottle and 
my collet. 

ri I used in scarlet to follow the drum. 
Lai de dandle, 4c. 

V. 

ho' with hoary locks, I must stand (he 

wnler shocks, 

the t'other bag I sell, and the totlier 
lot He tell, 



He ended ; and the kebars sheu 

Aboon the chorus roar ; 
"While frighted rattans backwar 



5 was a maid, tho' I cannot te'J when, 
till my delight is in proper young men ; 

one of a troop of dragoons was my 

daddie, 
onder I'm fond of a sodger laddie. 
Sing, Lai de lal, &c. 

II. 

To rattle the thundering drum "as his trade"! 
His leg was so tight, and his cheek was so 

ruddy, 
Transported was I with my sodger laddie. 
Siug, Lal de lal, &c. 

III. 

But the godly old chaplain left him in the 

lurch. 
So the sword I forsook for the sake of ti<s 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRAR.V. 



He vjntur'd the soul and I risked the body, 
Twas then I piov'd false to my sodger laddie. 
Sing, Lai de lal, &c 

Fu'd soon I grew sick of the sanctified sot, 






But whilst with Loth bands! lau B hoU the 

glass Sleady, 
Here's to thee, my hero, mv sodger laddie. 
Sing, Lal'de lal, &c. 



a High la. 



Wi' sighs and sobs 



Tune — " an* ye were dead Gudeman. " 



A Highland lad my love was born, 
The Lalland laws he held in scorn ; 



>r my John Highlander 



My gallant 


raw John High 


aH.':T,aU: 




III. 




Sing, he 


y. &c. 




Sae merrily the banes we'll pykc 




III, 






An'a't n oSr7eisur a e, whenwi'l!ke 


We ranged 


i» from Tweed t 


Spey, 


« 


We'll whistle o'er the lave o't 




e lords and ladi 




I am, &c. 


F<r a Lid': : 


d face he feared 








My gallant 


raw John High 


.:iidman 




IT. 




iv.' 


y, &c. 




And while I kittle hair on than 



Auown my cheeks the pearls ran, 
Embracing my John Highlandman. 
Sing, hey, &c. 



hey catch 'd him at the la 



And now a widow, I must mourn 
The pleasures that will ne'er return 
No comfort but a hearty can, 
When I think on John Highlandtni 



Her sirappan li 
Had hol'd his h 



The wee Apollo 



" Whistle owre the 1 



I am a fiddler to my trade, 

An* a' the-tunes that e'er f play 

The sweetest still to wife or mail 




UK '1 



BURNS POEAiS. 



Her charms had struck a sturdy C 

He taka tbefiddler by the^eo/d, 
And draws a rusty rapier- 

Heswoor by a' was swearing vro, 
To speet him like a piiver, 

-Unless he would from that time lb 
Relinquish her for ever. 

Upon'ui'sVunke^s'bVnded''' 6 ' 1 " 
And pray'd for erace wi' ruefu' fa 



My bonnie las?, I work in brass, 

I've t'raveU'd round^M Christian ground 

In this mv occupal nn, 
I've ta'en the gold, I've been enroll'd 

Eut^TinThey'^arch '"! when off I mareh'd 

I've ta'en the gold, &c. 

II. 

Despise that shrimp, that withei'd imp, 

An' by that stowp, my faith and houp, 
An' by thai dear Keilbagie,* 

Way Vne'Tr weermy'traigfe?" ' 



The caird prevail'd— the unblushing 

An' partly she was drui.k. 
Sir Violino, with an air 



heir health that night. 



Her lord, a wight o' Homer's t 

He hirpl'd up, and lap like daft 
An' shor'd them Dantie Dav 



* A peculiar sort of whisky so call 
;reat favourite with Poosie-Nansie's clubs, 
t Homer is allowed to be the oldest ballad- 



Though Fortune sair upon him laid, 



Tune— "For a' that, a 



Ui' E-mle folks, an' a' that: 



I've lost butane, I've twa beh 
I've wife enough for a' that 

I never drank the Muse's stank, 
Cnstalia's burn, an' a' thai ; 

But tbere it slreams, and richly rean 
My Helicon I ca' that. 

For a' that, &c. 

ni. 



For a' that, &c. 



So sung the bard— and Nansie's wa' 
Shook wilh a thunder of aoplause, 

Re echo'd from each momh; 
They toom'd their pocks, an' pawn'd theii 



Thenowre again, the jovial liirang, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Time — " Jolly Mortals fill your Glasses." 

L 

See the srookin? bowl before us, 

Mark our jovial ragged ring J 
Bound and round take up the chorus, 

And in rap lures 'let ns sing. 


To join faith and sense upon ony pretence. 
Is heretic, damnable error. 

Town of Ayr, townof Ayr, it was mad, I de- 
Provost John is still deaf to the church's ro- 


CHORUS. 


And orator Bob t is its ruin. 


A fig for those by law protected l 
Liberty 's a glorious feast! 


D'rymple mild,§ D'rymple mild, tho' your 
Yet that winaa save ye, auld Satan most ha7e 


II. 

XVhat is title ? what is treasure ? 
What is reputation's care? 

If -as lead a hf= of pleasure, 

A fig, &c. 


Bumble John,!] Rumble John, mount the 
steps wi' a groan. 
Cry 'he book 1e wi' heresy cramm d ; 
Ihen lug out the ladle, deal brimstone like 
adle, 
And roar ev'ry note of the damn'd. 


III. 



untry lighter 

.of marriage 

r scenes of lo 

A fig, i 



THE KIRK'S ALARM,* 



Orthodox, orthodox, wha 
Let me sound an alarm to 



ic blast has been Mawn in th« 



Dr Mac.t Dr Mac, you should stretch on a 



There's a h 
I'll lay on you 

For puppie; 
Singet Sawn. 



ead, that the pack ye '11 soon 

ke you there's bnt few. 

rt* Siuget Sawney, are ye 



Wi' a jump, yell, and howl, alarm e 

For the foul thief is just at your gate. 
DaddyAuld.ff Daddy Auld, there's a to 



Ye: to worth li 
If the aas'wi 



I's be just, royal blood ye might 



ie Goose, $5 Jamie Goose, ye 1 



ur mark, for the L-d'i 

id cawd a wrang pin in'U 



f Dr M< II. t R 1 A n, 

5 }ir D e. Mr R 11. 

•j Mr M« y. ** Mr M v. 

ft Mr A d. %% Mr G , Ochillrea. 

§§ Mr Y 'g, Cumnock. 





BURNS 


POEMS 


Poet Willie,* Poet Wil 
volley, 


■e, E :e the Doctor a 


Or wha will tent the waifs and crocks, 
About the dykes ? 


Wi' your liberty's cha 










The twa best herds in a' the wasf, 


Ye but smelt, man, the 


place where he sh-t. 


That e'er ga'c gospel horn a blast, 
These five and twenty simmers past, 


Audro Gouk.f Andro Go 


uk, ye may slander 


O ! dool to tell, 
Ha'e had a bitter black out-cast ; 


And the book not the w 


aur let me tell ye j 


Atween themsel. 


Ye are rich, and look big 


but lay by hat and 








0, M y, man, and worthy R 1 


And ye'll hae a calf's h 


ead o' sma' value. 


How could you raise so vile a bustle, 


Barr Steenie,^: Barr Stee 


me, what mean ye ? 


And think it fine! 



Wi' people wha ken ye n: 

Irvine side,§ Irvine side, wi 
pride, 
Of mauhood but sma' is y 



Muirland Jock,|| Mail 



lore grant you nae 
I Jock, when the 



To confound the poor Doctc 
Holy Will, «J Holy Will, ther 



And your skulls are storehouses o' lead. 

Poet Burns, Poet Burns, wi' your prie: 
skelping turns. 



Vour muse is a gipsie, e'en tho' sh 


e were 




She could'ca' us nae waur than we a 


re. 


Sic twa— 

Sic famous 
An* names. 


THE TWA HERDS.** 




While new- 


a' ye pious godly Hocks, 
Weel fed on pastures orthodox, 
Wha uow will keep you frae the fox, 
Or worrying tykes, 




A" ye what 
There's D- 
But chieQy 

That thoa v 






* Mr P s, Ayr. f Dr A M- 

* Mr S Y , Barr 

g Mr S h, Galaton. II Mr S- 

T| An Elder in Mauchline. 
** This piece was among the first 


d, 

of our 


There's sea 
But comes 



O, Sirs ! whae'er wad ha*e 
Your duty ye wad sae neglec 
Ye wha were ne'er by laird i 
To wear th 
But bv the brutes the^nsels eli 



And sell their skin. 
What herd like R 11 tell'd his tale. 



Could shake then 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



D e ha 

W 11 

That aft ha'e 


been lang onr fae, 

'd rascal" ea»d M«— — "e 
And baith the S 

made us Mack and blae, 
Wi* vengefu' paws. 


Auld W 

We thought 
But he has s 

A chield wlia 


— w lang has hatch'd mis 

Uen, to our grief" 

'ilioundly buff our beef; 
I meikle dread him. 


And monie a 
Wka fain wc 
Forby turu-c 

I doubt he's 


ane that I could tell, 
uld openly rebel, 

There S— h for ane, 
ut a grey-nick quill, > 



And get the 1 
Then Orthod 

Be banish'J < 



Leth 



Then Shaw's and Dalryinp' 

BI'Q-e's pathetic Tariy h 

And guid J 
Wi' S— h, who through ths 



THE HENPECK'D HUSBAND. 



siss her maids, aud kick th 



ELEGY ON" THE YEAR 17SS. 



But.ob, prodigious to reflect 
A Towmout, Sirs, is gane to 
O Eighty-eight, in thy sma' 



In Eighty-eight, ye ken, was la'en 
What ye'U ne'er hae u gi'e again. 



ardless boy, I pray tak' care, 
iw has got thy daddy's chair, 
id-cufl'd, mizzl'd, haff-shackl'd 

s himsel*. a full free agent, 

ye follow out the plan 

tr than he did, honest man! ' 



CAEEON. 

! to view your warks 



3 WRITTEN BY BURNS, 



HIM IMMEDIATELY AtfTEK TUB 

He who of R— k— n sang, lies stiff and dead, 

i green grassy hilloek hides his head; 

alas 1 a devilish change indeed ! 

neetingof the Dumfries-shire Volunteers, 



BURNS. - 

That we lost, did I say, nay, by heav'n! that 

For their fame "it shall last while the world 

The nest in succession, I '11 give you the King, 
Whoe'er would betray him, on high may lie 

And here's the grand fabric, oar free Cousti- 

As built on the base of the great Revolution ; 
And longer with Politics net to be cramin'd. 
Be Anarchy eurs'd, and be Tyranny damn'd ; 
And who would to Liberty e'er prove disloyal, 
May his son be a hangman, and he his 



By my love so ill-requited ; 

By the faith you fondly pliahled ; 

By the pangs of lovers slighted ; 



STRATHALLAN'S LAMENT. 



THE BIEKS OF ABERFELDY. 

3ouDy lassie will ye go, will ye go, will ye go, 
Sonny lassie will ye go, to the iiirks of Abe 
feldy f 

Now snmmer blinks on flowery braes, 
And o'er the crystal streamlet plays, 
Come let us spend the lightsome days 
In the birks of Aberfeldy. 

Bonnie lassie. Sec. 

While o'er their heads the hazels hing, 
T!, tile birJie blj tl.e'.y sing, 



lets gently flowing, 
es, softiy blowing, 



But the heavens ( 
Ruin's wheel has d 



The fo 


. 






The 


B 


The ho 


■ry rli'T 






Andri 





assie, &c. 

rown'd wi' flowers : 



Let fortune's gifts at random Be?, 
They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me, 
Supremely blest wi' love and thee 
la the birks of Aberfeldy. 



THE YOUNG HIGHLAND ROVER. 
Tune — «' Morag." 
Loud blaw the frosty breezes, 

Where'er he go, where'er he stray, 

May heaven be his warden : 
Return him safe to fair Strathspey 



Tvae — "An GiUe dabh ciar dhubh." 



Miiil i'te biyihely s 

Sae riTrejoieTlbe lel-h = . 
When by his mighty warden 



; nothing is borrowed but ( 



the Highlands, 'after the battle of Culloden. 

l'ha young Highland rover is supposed to 
te young Chevalier, Prince Charles Ed- 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

She tripped by the banks of E 



Tune— " M'Grigor of R 



•• O'er the past too fondly w anderinj 
Chilly grief my life-blood freezes,' 



MUSING OH THE ROARING OCEAN. 



Gentle night, c 

Down) sleep 

Spin's k.nd, a ( 



ELYTHE WAS SUE. 

Blythe, blythe, and merry was si 
Blythe was she bat and ben : 

Ely Hie by it 



By Onghtertyre grows the aik, 

On Yarrow banks, the birU-n shaw : 

But Phem.e was a bonnier lass 
Thau braes o' Yarrow ever saw. 
Blythe, &c. 

Her looks were like a flow'r in May, 
Her smile was like a simmer morn ; 




*The occasion en which this poem 
written is unknown to the Editor. It 
early composition. 


:z 



As light 
Blylh 


^birdupona.horu.' 




Her bonm 
Asony 

The eveni 

As was 

Blylb. 


e face it was as meek 

he blink o' Phemie's e'e. 




The High 

But Pheni 

Bly.h 


and hills I've wander 'd w 

the Lowlands 1 hae b«u 
e was the blythest lass 
r trode the dewy green. 




A ROSE-BUD BY MY EARLY 




WALK. 




A Rcse-bu 

Adownac 

Sae gently 

Alloua 


d by ray early walk, 

Lent its thorny stalk, 
dewy morniug. 




Ere twice 

And droop 
It scent 


the shades o' dawn are Dr. 
ng rich the dewy head, 




Within the bush, her covert nest 
A little linnet fondly prest, 
The dew sat chilly on her breast 
Sae early iu the morning. 




The pride, 

Amang th 

Awake t 


fresh gVee" leaves* bedew'd 
he early morniug. 




So thon, d 
On trembl 
Shall swee 
That ten 


ear bird, young Jeany fair, 

tly pay the tender care 
ts thy early morning. 




So thou, s 

Shall beau 

And bless 

That wa 


eous blaze upon the day, 
ee parent's oer.ing ray 
iched thy early morning.* 


aj. 


WHERE BRAVING ANGRY WI> 


TER'S 




STORMS. 




Tune.-" 


Neil Gow's Lamentation f 
cairny." 


or Aber- 


Where, braving angry winter's storm 

The lofty Oehils rise, 

"iwiZt my wo7derinfey'es. 8rm 
As one who by some savage stream, 

Aston"sh'dfouVr r mirks its beam 
\vuh'ari's°niostpolish'd > blaze.' 




*This 

of 1787. 
the I'ard, 


ong was written during th 
Miss J. C. daughter of a 
is the heroine. 


riend'of 



BURNS POEMS. 



Blest be the *ild, sequester'.! =h> de. 
And blest the day and hour, 

Where Peggy's charms I first survey 
When first I felt their pc - - ' 

The tyrant Death, with gr 
May seize ray fleeting bi 

But tearing Peggy from m. 






TIBBIE, I HAE SEEN THE DAY. 
Tune — *' Invercauld's ReeL" 



part,— but by these precious drops, 
lat fill thy lovely eyes 1 
No other light shall gu.de my steps, 
Till thy bright beams arise. 

She, the fair sun of all her sex, 

And shall a gl.iumering planet fix 
My worship to its ray ? 



Yestreen I met you on the moor, 



Tune—" Seventh of November. 



Whene'er ve like to 'ry. 
O Tibbie", I hae, &c. 

But sorrow tak him that's sa 

Wha-follows onv saucy quea 

That looks sae proud and I 

O Tibbie, I hae, it 



If that he want the ye 



But 


f he hae the name o 


gear, 


Ye' 


fasten t 






•Jhu 


hardly 1 






B 




an the kye. 






Tibbie 


, I hae, &c 




But, 


Tibbie, 


ass, tak my 


ttdyiee 


Your daddie* 






The 




e wad spier 




\\ 




poor as L 





When that grim foe of life below, 

The iron hand that breaks our band, ' 
breaks my bliss— it breaks my hea 



THE LAZY JUST. 
The lazy mist hangs from the brow cf the 
aling the course of the dark winding 
anguid the scenes, late so sprightly, ap 

id all the gay foppery cf summer is flown : 
.art let me wander, apart let me muse, 
>w quick time is flying, how keen fate pur- 
How long I have liv'd— hut how much liv'c 
How little of life's scanty span may remain: 



V, Ut 



is progre, 



This life's not worth having with all i: 
give, 
omething beyond it poor man sure 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



0, WERE I ON PARNASSUS HILL. 
Tune—" My lo?e is Igst to me. " 



ing, I Cuuidna say 



Thy tempting lips, 

By heaven and ea 

By night, by day, a 



Beyond the sea, beyond the sun, 
»TiU ray last, weary sand was run 
. 'Till then— and then I love thee, 

I LOVE MY J CAN. 
Tune — '< MisuAdmiral Gordon's Si 
Of a' the airts the wind can blaw, 



Now in yonr wintry beds, ye flowers, 



••We are 
But jus 

The cock 


na fon, we're nae that fou, 
adrappieiuoure'e; 


And ay 




Here are w 


met, three merry boys, 


AiKI UI»|,; u 


maiV we ho ,'e to L b,eea ' 




arenafo'o, &c 






It is the mo 

She =!.::!e, - 
Sutbvn. 


n, I ken ber horn, 
ae bright to wjleushame' 



night my fancy's flight 



I see hei 
I hear h 



THE BRAES O' BALLOCHMYLE. 
The Catrine woods were yellow seen, 
Kaela»Wksan^ a onliiUock^r«nr' 

Thro' fadedV.oveTMarla'sa'ng, 6 ' 



. first shall rise to gang awa, 

cuckold, cov.ardloun is he! 

,' Wha hi.,t beside his chair shall fa", 

We are nae fou, &c.f 



THE BLUE-EYED LASSIE. 



'Twas no 
Her lip 

Her heav 
It was 




6 


H 


S- 


glets bright 

-white—' 
uuie blue. 




She talk' 


, s 




ni 


* 


w^:ti 


wyrd, 


Cam ft 


lies 




Y, 


sae 


dea-jlv wo.) 
bunuie blue. 


id, 



Stewt 



• Catri. 



,^.l 






t of Bugald 
philosophy 

tefoord, uow 



was Mr Will 

ton. These I 
uncommon ti 



d Rob and Allan, 






^& 



p 






• f ~^^ 



BURNS POEMS. 



But spare to speak, and spare to speed ; 
Should she refuse, I'll lay my dead 

THE BANKS OF NITH. 
Tune— "Hobie Donna Gorach.' 
The Thames flows proudly to the sea, 



rely. Nith, thy fruitful vales, 
■e spreading hawthorns gaily bl 
reetly winu thy sloping dales 



Far from thy bonnie banks ai 

May there my latest hours cons 

Aniang the friends of early d; 



JOHN ANDERSON MY JO. 

i Anderson, my jo, John, 
rheu we were first acquit. 





TAM GLEtf. 


My heart is 


a-breaklng, dear tittie. 


Some cm 


nsel unto me come leu', 


John Ande 


rson, my jo, John, when nature 


first 






canny hand, John, her master- 






And you a 


ing them a', John, sae trig frae 






She proved 


to be nae journey-work, John An- 


ders 


>n, my jo. 


John Ande 


son, my jo, John, ye were my first 


And ye^'a 


think it strange, John, tho* 1 ca' 


Tho' some 


'fo'lk'sa/y^re auld, John, I never 


But I thin 


ye're aye the same to me, John 


And 


erson, my jo. 


John Ande 


rson, my jo, John, we've seen oui 



with her husband in New York, North Amer- 

+ In the first volume of a collection entitled, 
Poetry, Original and Selected, printed by 
Brash and Eeid of Glasgow, this song is given 

JOHN ANDERSON, MY JO, IMPROVED. 



ly dear John Anders 



n, my jo, John, what pleasure 

lony sprouts, John, spring up 

.id lass, John, in our footsteps 

heaven here on earth, John Aa- 
niyjo. 



Jul now your head's turned bald, John, your 
fet blessings on your frosty pow, John An- 



locent delight we lived, John An- 
ion, my jo, John, we clamb the 
canty day, John, we've had wi* 

inn totter down, John, but band 
id we'll go. 

leep iheguher at the foot, John 
:son, my jo. 

:a with which this song, inserted 
Brash and Reid, begins, is the 
ie old song under this title ; ond 
ectly suitable to that wicked but 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 
- ' ] Mj laddie's sae rneikle in lure 



ie the laird o' Duuiell 



. think sae o' Tam Glen ? 
i, gin I'll forsake Lira, 



My heart to nr 
For thrice I dre; 

The last Hallowf 



1 11 gie you my bonnie black hen, 
Gi.i ye will advise me to marry 
The lad I lo'e dearly, Tam Glen. 



MY TOCHER'S THE JEWEL. 



It's a* for the 1 



i, nor suffered iti 



And ve'il crack your ci 



Ga 
J-,a 


e is (he day and mirk's the night, 
we'll ne'er stray for faule o* light, 
ale and brandy 's stars and moon, 
bluid red wine's the risin sun. 


Th 


n guidwife count the lawin, the la 


Th 


iawin, 
n guidwife count the lawin, and 




coggie mair. 


The 

And 

li.i 
l'ui 


re's wealth an' ease for gentlemen, 
Then guidwife count, &c. 


My 

I'h 


t^eTflie wouXo' care and doo 


aI, 


Then guidwife count, &c. 



l the peanie that tempted I 



He's always compleening fra< 

hosts an he birples the we: 
doy'lt and he's dozin, t 

dreary's' the night wi'acrt 

lums and he hankers, he 

peevish and jealous of a' t 






are singularly intereel 



n the day, I met wi' an* nuld ma 

nlie Kalie upon me takes pity. 
y endeavour lo follow her plan ; 

his uuld brass will lay me a u 



BURNS POEMS. 



THE BONNIE WEE THING. 

inie wee thing, canni 
.ovely wee thing, was 

Lest my jewel I should tine. 

Wistfully I look and languish, 
In lhatbonnie face of thine; 

Lest my wee thing be ua mine. 

Wit, and grace, and love, and beauty, 

Goddess oMhisTonro^'mine ! 
Bonnie wee, &c 

fc, FOB. ANE AND TWENTY TAM. 
Tune— " The Moudiwort." 



las left me by my auntie, Tarn ; 

a' I saw ane and twenty, Tarn, 
An' 0, for ane, &c. 



CESS AND HER SPINNING WHEEL 



Where, blythe I tuni my spinning wheel. 
On lofty aits the cushats wail, 



Wi' sma' to sell, and less to I 
Aboon distress, below envy, 
Owha wad leave this humble 

Amid their fla ring, idle toys,' 

Can they the peace and pleasl 
Of Bessy at her spinning whe 



COUNTRY LASSIE. 



Blythe Bessie in the milking shiel, 

Out spake a dame in wrinkled eild, 
O ' gude advisement comes nae ill. 

Its ye hae wooers mony a ane, 
And, lassie, ye're but young, ye ken ; 

Then wait a wee, and cannie wale, 
A routhie butt, a routhie ben : 

There's Johnie o' the Buskie-glen, - 
Fu' is his barn, fu' is his byre ; 



And weel I wat he lo'es me dear : 
e blink o' him 1 wad na gie 
For Buskie-glen and a' his gear. 



Keep mind that ye maun drink the yilL 
gear will buy me rigs o' land. 



FAIR ELIZA. 



Thee, dear maid, b 


e I offended 


The offence is lov 

While the life beat 
Turn again, thou k 


ssw 


Not the bee upon .1 


e blossom, 


Not .L'lUtiesporti 


Ig'ta'rv"' 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

I'll tie the pose roand wi' the silken band o* 

And I'll place it in her breast, and I'll swear 

That to my latest d'raught o* life the band shall 

And this will be a posie to my ain dear Maj. 



TUE BANKS O' DOON. 

Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon, 
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fail 



THE POSIE. 
O Luve will venture in, where it danr na we' 
O luve will venture in where wisdom ance ha 
Bat 1 wiU down yon river rove, amang th 
And a' to pu' a posie to my ain dear May. 
The primrose I will pa', the firstling o' lh 
And I will pa* the pink, the emblem o' m 
For she's the pink o' womankind, and bloora 

I'll pu' the budding rose when Phoebus peej 

The hyacinth's for constancy wi' its unchan£ 



And a' 



tr May. 



le I will pu' when the e'ening st 
mond-draps o' dew shall be h 



Oft hae I roved by bo 


inie Doon, 


To see the rose and 








And, fondly.' sae di 




Wi' i.ghtsome heart 


pu 'dares 


Fu' sweet upon its 




And my fause lover st 




Batuhl he left the 


thorn wi' t 



SIC A WIFE AS WILLIE HAD. 
Mliie Wastle dwall on Tweed, 



The twin o* that upon her shoutl 
Sio a wife, &c. 

Auld baudrins by the ingle sits, 



GLOOMY DECEMBER. 

Anee mair I hail Ibee, thou gloomy December, 

Sad was the parting thou makes me remember, 
Parting wi' Nancy, Oh! ue'er to meet mair. 



•Till the last leafo' the sunn 
Still as I hail thee, ihou gloom; 



EVAN BANKS. 

Is the gloom my soal it 



AVhose 
\V ho tr 
And Ion 



Ye lofiy banks that Evan bound ! 

Ye lav.sh woods that wave around, 

And o'er the stream your shadows throw, 



Nor more may aught my sleps divide 

From that dear stream which llows to Clyde. 



. WILT THOU BE MY DEARIE. 
Wilt thou be my dearie ; 



SHE'S FAIR AND PAUSE. 



Sae let the bourne lass gang. 

To e |h7s J be never bilndi* 11 °™' 
Nae ferlie 'tis Iho' tickle she provt 



AFTON WATER. 

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green 

Flow gently, I'll sing ihee a song in Ihy 

My Mark's asleep by thy murmuring stream. 
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her 

Thou stock io-e whose echo resounds thro' the 

glen. 
Ye w.ld whistling blackbirds in yon thorny 

I charge you disturb not my slumbering fair. 

How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighbouring 

Far marked with courses of clear winding 

high, 

in my eye. 

How pleasant thy banks and gTeen valley be- 
Where wild in the woodlands the primroses 

There oft as mild evening weeps over tne lea. 
The sweet-scented birk shades my Alary and 

Thy crystal stream, Afton, how. lovely it 
And winds by the coi where my Mary resides i 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

ilon thy waters her snowy fee( la 



Flow gently, sweet Afion, among thy green 
Flow gently, sweet river, the theme of my 



FOR THE SAKE OF SOMBBODY 
My heart is sair, I dare na tell, 



BONNIE BELL. 
The smiling spring comes in rejoic 



ery Spring leads sum 
5llow Autumn presses 
his turn comes gloom 
miling Spring again 



THE GALLANT WEAVER. 

Where Cart rins rpwin to the sea, 
By mony a fiow'r and spreading tree, 



While corn grows green in simmer showers, 






I'll love my gallant weaver.* 


Fate ga 


e the wort!, the arrow sr 






ierced my darling's hear 






h him all the joys are fle 




Lifec 




LOUIS, WHAT RECK I BY THEE. 


By crue 


hands the sapling drop 


Louis, what reck I by thee, 


So fell 


he pridTof all rnThopes 




My a, 


re's future shade. 










The mo 


her linnet in the brake, 




Bewa 






So I for 






Lame 


,t "the hve-day Jong. 




D rub, 


oft I've fear Mth) latal 1 



THE LOVELY LASS OF INVERNESS. 



Their winding sheet the bloody cl 



BURNS — POEMS. 



O MAY, THY MORN. 

May, thy morn was ne'er sae sweel 

As the mirk night o' December j 
For sparkling was the rosy wine, 



s to them, that like oursel, 



O what ye wha's In yon town, 
The fairest dame's in yon towr 



Ye catch the glances o' her e'e. 

How blest ye birds that ro2nd her sii 

And welcome in the blooming year 

And doubly welcome be ihe spring, 



The sun blinks llythe on yon town, 
And on yon bonnie braes of Ayr J 

But my delight in yon town, 
And dearest bliss is Lucy fair. 

Without my love, not a' the charms 

O' paradise could yield me joy ; 
But gie me Lucy in my arms, 

nd welcome Lapland's dreary sky. 



Tho' raging winter rent the air ; 
And she a lovely little flower. 

That I wad tent and shelter there. 



But spare me, spare me, Lucy dear. 
For while life's dearest blood is warm, 



* The heroine of this song, Mrs O. (form 
Jy Miss L. J.) died lately in Lisbon. T 

was worthy of this beautiful strain of sensit 



A RED, RED ROSE. 

O my love's like a red, red rose, 
That's newly sprung in June, 

O my love's like the melody 
That's sweetly play'd in tune. 

As fair art thou, my bonny lass, 



'Till a' the seas gang dry, : 
And the rocks melt wi' tl 
[ will love thee still, my de 



TIi» v 


inds 


„. e ]- 


d, ihe 


air was st 


The 




they s 




g the sky- 


Tl,- 1, 








he hill, 


And 


the 


.slant 


■choing 


glens repl 


Thes 


ream 


adown 


its ha? 


elly path, 


Wa 




ing !■;. 






iia,i<. 


a S sed 




oaring 


™,J 


Thee 


aid 


lue no 


th was 


streaming 


Her 




s, wi' hissing 






ihe 


ift they 






L.k 


fori 


jne's fa 


vours, 


tint as win 


By be 


dless 


chanc 


I turn 


'd mine ey 


And 


by I 


le moo 


" l T" m 


shook, to 



And on u 
The sat 

And frae 



was plain, 
rty! 

r.s did flow 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



X winna vemure'l in my rhymes.* 
COPY OF A POETICAL ADDRESS 



MR WILLIAM TYTLER, 



well claim < 



My fathers 
My father: 



should he scoffingly Blight 
is for King George I most 



* This poem, an imperfect copy of which 
was primed in Johnson's Museum, is here 
given from [lie ; ■«'. MS. v.ith his last cor- 
rections. The scenery so tine!/ described is 

b= musing by nigl 






ah. 111, 



pe.fth cs 



poet's prudence 
perhaps fortur 
may Le questio 


d worthy of the graudeu 


solemnity of ih 


s preparation. 



Cut loyalty, truce! we're on dahgeroi 

Who knows how the fashions may alter. 
The doctrine, to-day, that is loyalty sound, 
To-morrow may bring us a halter. 

I send you a trifle, a head of a bard, 
A trifle scarce worthy your care ; 

But accept it, good sir, as a mark of regard, 
Sincere as a saint's dying prayer. 



My mnse jilted me here, 
n me, and I have not gel 
;races. Domethejust.ee 
ere in my grateful remem 



Your obliged and very humble Servant, 
B, BURNS. 

E-'i'iiLiire-A, 1787. 



CALEDONIA. 
" Caledonian Hunt's Delight. " 
; once a day, but old Time then 
re Caledonia, the chief of her line, 



ire, old Odin, triumphantly 
■ shall provoke thee tV encounter 



To feed her fair flocks by her green n 

Jut chiefly the woods were her fov'rite 
Her darling amusement, the hounds a 



A flight of bold eagles from Adria's strox 
tepeaied, successive, for many long years 
They darken 'd the air, and they plund 





BURNS- 


Their pounces were murder, and terror their 


TheyM conquer' 

She took to her hil 
The dariag invac 


1 and ruia'd a world be- 


s and her arrows let fly, 
ers they fled or they died. 


The fell Harpy-ra 


vea took wing from the 


The scourge of the seas, and the dread of 
The wild Scandinavian Hoar issued forth 
O'er countries and kingdoms their fury pre- 


No arts could appease them, nor arms could 


But brave Caledoni 

teit t" 


!»£«&* 


Til? Cameleon-sava 
With tumult, dis 

And robb'd him 


ge disturb 'd her repose, 
quiet, rebellion and strife ; 


The AngUau lion, the terror of France, 

Oft prowling, ensangmVd the Tweed's sil- 

Bat taught by the bright Caledonian lance, 


Thus bold, indepen 
Her bright cour 


dent, unconquer'd and free, 
9 of glory for ever shall 


For brave Caledoni 
I'll prove it from 

Rectangled triangl 
The upright is C 


Euclid as clear as the sun: 
, the figure we'll choose, 
hanee, and old Time is the 


But brave Caledoni 
Then ergo she'l 


l's the hypothenuse; 
match them, and match 


them always 


il 






THE FCL 


LOWING POEM 


HAD SENT HIM A NEWSPAPER, AND OF- 
FEP.ED TO CONTINUE IT PP.EE OF EX- 


Kind sir, I've read 

ToLTwba'tFrenc 
Or what the druail 


your paper through, 

ve^rainMand glumed,' 
h mischief was bren in'; 
e Dutch were Uoia' ; 


* The Saxons. f The Danes. 

± Two famous battles, in which the Danes 
or Norwegians were defeated. 

§ The Highlanders of the Isles. 

u This singular figure of poetry, taken from 
the mathematics, refers to the famous proposi- 
tion of Pythagoras, the 47th of Euclid. In a 
right-angled triangle, the square of the hypo- 
•henuse is always equal to the squares of the 
two other sides. 



Atween the Russian and the Turks ; 
Or if the Swede, before he halt, 
Would play anither Charles the Twalt ! 
If Denmark, ony body spako't ; 



How 






If Span 



Italy was 

low our merry lads al hame, 
In Britain's court kept up the game ; 
How royal George, the Lord leuk o er 1 
Was managing St Stephen's quorum ; 
If sleekit Chatham Will was livin, 
Or glaikit Charlie got hia nieve in ; 
How daddie Burke the plea was cookin, 
If Warren Hastings' neck was veukin : 
■ 



s yet 



Orifba 

The news o' pri't 

Pimps, sharpers 






!, Geordie Wales, 

A" this and mair I nerer keardof ; 

And, bat for jou, I might despair'dof. 

And pray, a' guid things may attend y 
EUisland, Monday Moruing, 1790. 

POEM 
ON PASTORAL POETKY. 
Hail Poesie ! thou nymph reserved ! 



buskin skelp alang 



Wee Top 

Ho 
In thy eweet sang, E 

Ev 

But thee, Theocritus 
They're no herd's b= 
Squire Pope but busl 

O' 
IpaSit by handers, n 

Th 

In this ' 



te Shepherd's wh 
And rural gt 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Andw 



Yes I there is ane ; a Scottish callan ! 
There's ane; come forrit. honest Allan ! 
Thoa need na jouk behinl the hallan, 

The teeth o' time n.ay gnaw Tamilian, 
But tbou's for ever. 

Thou naints auld nature to the uines, 
In thy' sweet Caledonian lines ; 

Where Philomel,' 



ds join the shepherd's lays 
At close o' day. 



That charm that 



THE BATTLE OF SHERIFF-MUIR, 

BETWEEN THE DUKE OF ASGYLK AND 



Or herd the sL 
And did the b; 



The great Argyle 
I wat they glanc. 
Thej ' - 



it kingdoms three, man. 
push'd, and bluid outgush 



dtwen 



ash'd. 



, while broadswords 



And thro' they dash'd, i 

Till fey men'died awa, mac 

But had you seen the philibeg 



When 






When bayonets opposed the targe, 
And thousands hastened to the charge, 
Wi' Highland wrath they frae the sheal 
Drew blades o' death, till out o' breath, 
They fled like frighted doos, man." 



«■ how deil Tam can that be ti« 
The chase gaed frae the north, i 
I saw myself, they did pursue 



Their left-hand general had nae si 
The Angus lads had nae good will 

For fear by foes, that they should 





11 ig 


hlan 






I fear my Lo 










Or fallen i 






i ha 


ri= : 


Now wad ye 








- tr.-i 














fie 1 




nil 


p. ic. 


Then ye may 


tell 


how 


P e ' 





SKETCH, 
NEW YEAR'S DAY. 



winds the exhausted chain, 
d-pated fellow, 



With at 

To wheel the equal, dull routine 



Deaf as my frie 



him with their prayer. 



Will you (the Major's 
'PJ tenants sua) 

Coila's fair Rachel's a 
And blooming Keith's . 






Bl/RNS POEMS. 






' THE PHILOSOPHY OP 1 



The old cock'd hat, the grey 6 



Hie uncomb'd grizzly locks wild-staring 
A head for thought profound and clear, un- 



POETICAL INSCRIPTION, 
AN ALTAR TO INDEPENDENCE, 

Thoo of an independent mind. 



* Mr Smellie, and our poet, were both m 
hereof a club in Edinburgh, under the n 
«f Croehallaa Feucibles. 



THE DEATH OF MR RIDDEL. 

fo more, ye warbier3 of the wood, no more 
Nor pour your descant grating on my eai 
Thou young-eyed Spring, thy charms Ic 



How can ye please, je flowers, with ail your 

I Ye blow upon, the sod that wraps my 
friend : 
How can I to the tuneful strain attend ? 



The Man of Worth, and has rot left his 

Thee, Spring, again with joy shall others 

greet ; 
Me, mem ry of my loss will only meet. 



A LADY FAMED FOR HER CAPRICE 

How cold is that bosom which folly once fired, 

lately glisten 'd : 
How silent that tongue which the echoes oft 

How dull is that ear which to flattery so 
listen 'd. 

If sorrow and anguish their exit await, 

From friendship and dearest affection re- 



virtues, I call not on jot 



t Robert Riddel, Esq. of Friar's Carse, 
bard thought himself under many obligation 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

arch through the garden for each silly 
roam through the forest for each idle 

ach'd her'but rued the 



sculpture the marble, we'll measure tl 
e Vanity strums on her idiot lyre j 
iich sp-jrniiig contempt shall redeem fro; 



And mv auld mither brunt tl 
For men, I've ihree raischie 
Run-dei!s for rantin and for 
A gadsman ane, a thresher I 



Lord keep m 

£23 



ed ted. 






ANSWER TO A MANDATE 
)W=, CAREIAGES. &C. TO EACH F 



L CARRIAGES, &C. AND 1 



Sir, as your mandate did re 
*— "'otak m 



•aith, 



She stares the daddle' 
Enough of ought ye li 

riough for her already, * 

By the L_d ye'se get them a' thegither 

mber, Mr Aiken, 
snee out I'm tabiu*. 

Fe 1*11 paidle, 



! sturdy stumps, tne \-ma rje ins 
, a' my gates on foot I'll shank 

s list wi' my aia hand I've wro 
day and J - 

scrips, h 



n!: it : 



v.iwiii 



As ever drew before a pettle. 

My hand-afore,* a guid auld has been, 

And wight and wiltu' a' his days seen ; 

Whaaft has borne me safe frae Kiltie, f. 
And your auld borough mony a time, 

My fu'r-a-hin,5 a guid, grey beast, 

The four'h, a Highland Donald hasty, 
A d-mn'd red-wud, Kilburnie blastie. 
For-by a cowie, of cowtes the wale, 

Ke'll draw me fifteen pund at least. 
Wheel carriages I hae bnt few, 



ROBERT BUR" 



SONG. 
te gentle dames.'tho' e'er sae fair:]| 



Within the glen sae bushy, O, 
Aboon the plain sa» rushy, O, 

To sing my Highland°lassie, O. 

O were yon hills and valleys mine. 
Yon palace and yon gardens fine I 
The world then the love should know 



in the left-hand, ! 
i the left-hand, ii 



\ But while my crimson currents fit 

> I'll love my Highland lassie, 0. 

Within the glen, io. 

AHho' thro' foreign clime-9 1 rang 



BURNS — POEMS. 



Within the glen, &e. 
Farewell the glen .• 



IMPROMPTU, 



Wight's horrid car crag' 

But spleeny English haugiug, dr 

Now, Jove, for once be mighty c 



Give me Maria's natal d; 
That brilliant gift will sc 
Krm'g, Suuiiiier.Autum 



ADDRESS TO A LADY. 

Oh wert thou in the cauld blast, 
On yonder lea, on yonder lea, 

My plaid. e to the angry airt, 

I'd shelter thee, I'd si. slier thee: 



TO A YOUNG LADY, 



So prays thj la.uiful :i 



Sing on, sweet thrush, upon the leafless 

Sing on? sweet bird, I listen to thy strain. 

See aged Winter 'ui-d his surly re gn. 

At thy lily the carol clears his furrowed Lrow. 



Welcuu 



:s if they bring aught to hope or feei 



EXTEMPORE, 

On refusing to dine with him, after having 

"-— promised 'the first of company, and lire 

of cookery, 17th December, 17S5. 

they titled cr not, 



Hvo is proof to iby personal c 



Is proof to all other temptal 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



TO MR S— E, 

WITH A PRESENT OS A DOZEN OF PORTEJ 

O had the malt thy strength of niind, 

Or hops the flavour of thy wit ; 
T, ere dr.nk for first of human kind, 

Jerusalem Tavern, Dumfries. 

THE DUMFRIES VOLUNTEERS. 

Tune—" Push about the Jorum. >> 

April, 1795. 

Does haughty Gaul invasion threat ? 



Alake, alake, the m 
at it, skdpii 



There' 



it the 1 



ritehe* 
' : 1'S and reel, 
Jn my poor pouches. 



uodesfly, fu' 



e, Isairly want it; 
~ ... .«= Uli ^ le down ye send it, 

It would be kind ; 
And while my heart \vi> life-blood dunt 

So may the auldyear gang out moanin; 



Wi' doub 
Domestic 



ace and comforts crowuing 
The hail design. 

POSTSCRIPT. 

this while how I've been li 



i 'Fall derail, &c 
snarling tykes, 



But by that health. I've got a share o' 



Then fareweel folly, 1 



A GENTLEMAN WHOM HE HAS 






Who but i 

Mine was tl 
Ah why si 



isensaie frenzied part, 



l sing "God save the kin< 
r as high's the steeple ; 
,-esing "God save the kin 
?t forget the people. 



AUDEESSED • 



POEM ON LIFE, 

£3^179^ 
eep I feel 



ADEKESSED T 



POEM. 

MR MITCHELL, 



canty world w 



* A high hill al 
^l^eUkno* 



BURXS POEMS. 



Then that curst carmagnole, auld Sat; 
Watches like baudrons by a rattan, 

Wi' felon ire; 
Syne, whip I his tail ye'il ne'er cast s 
He'saff like fire. 

Ah Nick ! ah Nick, it is na fair, 



Poor man, the flie, aft bizz 
Thy auiddainn'd elbow yen 



Soon besls o'er gowdie '. in he gangs, 
Thy gTrning l^gh^njoj" hi* pangs 



is dangling in the i 







eL 


If thou shall n 
In grace one 




ii D k I am uncivil, 




That e'en thy 


To plague you 




ng drivel. 


Ere while It 


Abjuring a' il 


I quat iny pen 




Had ne'er s 


The Lord pre 


erve us frae the d 








Aaieul amen 




If thou hadst 1 



ADDRESS TO THE TOOTH-ACHE. 



AVhen fevers burn, or ague freeze 
Rheumatics guaw, or colic squeei 

Our neighb,jur'= s\ iu;iaL'j', 'n :. t; 

VVV pitying mo 

But thee— thou hell o' a' diseases 



and the fire the giglefc 



III har'sts, daft barsains, cutty stools, 
Or worthy friends raked i ' the mools. 

The tricks o' knaves or fash o* fools, 



anked plagues their numbers tell, 
In dreadfu' raw, 
Thou, Tooth-ache, surely bear'st the be 
Amang them a' ! 

O thou grim mischief-making chiel, 

'Till daft mankind aft dance a reel 



SONG. 

Tune— "Morag 
i she that lo'es me, 



CHOKUS. 
O that's the lassie o' my heart, 



SONG. 

Jockie's ta'en the parting kiss, 



Flashy sleets and beating rain, 

Spare „.y luve, thou feathery snaw, 

Drifting o'er the frozen plain. 

When the shades of evening creep 
O'er the day's fair, gladsome e'e, 

Sweetly blyihe his waukening be! 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



SONG. 

My Peggy's face, my Peggy's form 
The frost of hermit age m.ght warm : 
My Peggy 's worth, my Peggy 's mind, 
Might charm the first of human kind : 
I love my Peggy 's angel air, 
Her face so truly, heavenly fair, 
Her native grace so void of art, 
But I adore my Peggy's heart. 

The lily's hue, the rose's dye, 
The kindling lustre of an eye; 
Who but owns their magic sway, 
Who but knows they all decay ! 
The tender thrill, the pitying tear, 
The generous purpose, nobly dear, 
The gentle look, tbat rage disarms. 



WRITTEN IN A WRAPPER, 

SKI WITH MR CAKDONNEL, 

-"Sir John Malconi." 
o ' Captain Grose ? 



Is he South, or is he North ? 
Or drowned in the river Forth ? 





Iram, coram, dago. 


OThoa 


, who kindly dost provide 


Is he si 


in by Highland bodies ? 


Fore 
We ble 


V s'the C e r . e God e of nature wide, 


And eat 


/like™ waher haggis ? 


For a 


1 thy goodness lent ; 




Iram, coram, dago. 


And if 


t please thee, heaveifly guid 






May 




Is he to 


Abram's bosom gaae ? 








Igo, and ago, 


Lord 


bless us with content 1 


Or baud 


in' Sarah by the wame ? 




Amen! 



be, the Lord be near 1 



ROEERT GRAHAM, Esq. OF FINTR7. 
ON RECEIVING A FAVOUR. 

I call no goddess to inspire my strains, 

A fabled -Muse mav suit a bard that feigns ; 

Friend of my life! my ardent spirit burns. 



EPITAPH ON A FRIEND. 

An honest man here lies at rest, 
As e'er God with his image blest; 
The friend of man, the friend of truth. 
The friend of age, and guide of youth : 
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm'd, 
Few heads with knowledge so inform'd : 
If there's another world, he lives in bliss ; 



A GRACE BEFORE DINNER. 



your humble debtor, 



MRS DUNLOP, OF DUNLOP. 
ON SENSIBILITY. 



So may ye get in glad 

Igo, and ago 

The coins a' Satan's < 



;st flower, behold the lily, 

Let the blast sweep o'er the valley, 
See it prostrate ou the clay. 



Dearly bought the hidden 
Finer feelings can best. 

Chorda that vibrate sweet 
Thrill the deepest notes 



When death's dark stream I fe 
" time that surely shall com 
saven itself, I'll ask no m, 
lan just a Highland welco: 



CORRESPONDENCE 



MR GEORGE THOMSON. 



CORRESPONDENCE, &c. 



No. I. 

MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 

sir, Edinhurgh, September, 1792. 

For some .years past, I have, with a friend or 
two, employed many leisure hours in ntkctir.g 
and collating the most favourite of our nation- 
al melodies for publication. We have engaged 
Plcyel, the most agreeable composer living, tr 

pose an instrumental prelude and conclusioi 
both public and private. To render (hi 



poetry improved, wherever it seems unworthy 




stances, is allowed by every one conversan 


with our musical collections. The editors of 




roving an eicuse for the verses ; and 












task to the author cf The Cotter's Saturday 
Night ; and, for the honour of Caledonia, I 


would fain hope he may be induced to take up 


the pen. If so, we shall be enabled to present 


the public with a collection infinitely more 
















we are resolved to spare neither pains nor el- 



songs in their stead. It is superfluous to as- 
sure you, that I have no intention to displace 
any of the sterling old songs ; those on;;, will 
be removed which appear quite silly, or abso- 



utely indecent. Even these shall all be e 
uined by Mr Burns, and if he is of opir 

uch cases, no divorce shall lake place'."" 5 " 
Belying on the letter accompanying this 
■c forgiven for the liberty 1 have taken in 
ressing you, lam with great esteem, 
our most obedient humble servant, 



No. n. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



to my enjovn:, nh it, I shall 

most exertion by the impulse of enthusiasm.* 
Only, don't hurry me: •• Deil lak the hind- 
most" is by no means the cri do guerre of unr 
muse. Will jou, a. 1 am inler:or to none o'f 

and music of old Caledonia, and since you re- 
quest it, have cheerfully promised my mite of 



undoubted right of publishers, "to approve, or 
*. at your pleasure, for your own publica- 
tion. Apropos, if you are for English verses, 
there is, on my part, an end of the matter. 
Whether in the simplicity of the ballad, or the 
pathos of the song, I can only hope to pleasj 
myself in being allowed at least a sprinkling of 
our native tongue. English verses, particu- 
larly the works of Scotsmen, that have merit, 
are certainly very eligible. • Tweedside ;' -Ah '. 
the poor Shepherd's mournful fate;* ' Ah 1 

mend; but such insipid stuff as 'To Fanny 
fair, could I impart,' ire: usually set to • 'lbs 
Mill Mill 0,' is a disgrace to the collections in 
which it has already appeared, and would 
doubly disgrace a colkctioti that vfj have th» 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



the farther 
L™ say! an 



it of yours". But n 



ition, yon may think my 



Dr Beattie well observt 
ference as between a p: 
bundle of rags. The 1 



and the ot 



No. HI. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 



Edinburgh, 13fA October, 1792. 
d, with much satisfaction, you 



to prod 


uce a col 


ection 


highly de 


tn 


public a 








lagr 








shv 






very el 








re necessary ; be 




■,'l 




»ery year. 




d more, the 


Ian 


t,£ Scot 


and ; but 


if yoa meant 


E 




scent the 


ebySc 


otiishauth 














from you. I sho 


A c,:l 


*i" 'he" "b 


" : 


alect to 


make ro 


om tor 




--,- 


if we ca 




few ex 






the unp 










not be 


the very 


i-olry 










ely bee 








thof'the 


Tweed? Ourswee 




": 


O, * which in the 








est stuff it 


atA.is 








g,' While 


son:etV 


r pleasure p 










L'r 1-.-.T 






'ONan 




nougo with' 






Id think he wrote 


it ou purpc 




air. H 










confine 


ou to En 




ses : you s 


ail 


as you 


elegantly 


eipr=i 


ftTand," 7 


°.!r 




patiently 


















and spo 










be dece 


at. Let 









nit the re'st, and at the 
is of the whole collec 



any hints that 
: 'and thankfulnes! 



No. IV. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



Let me tell you, that you are too fastidious 

your criticisms are Just ; the songs you specify 

mark in tbem ; but who shall mend the mat- 
ter ? Who shall rise up and say—Go to, I will 
make a better ? For instance, on reading over 
« The Lea-rig,' I immediately set about trying 

nothing more o'f it than the following, which, 
Heaven knows, is poor enough. 



If throueh that 


' : ^ 


I £■■-._ 


to thee. 


.My aiT. ku.d 








Altho' the nigh 








And I were i 


e'er 


aewea 


rie 0, 


* In the cop 


. lra 


emitted (o Mr Thomson. 


of the nianusc 


ripes 


in prob 


d wet. But in one 
ibly written after- 








to wild, evidently 


a great impr 






I'he lovers might 


meet on the lea 


that 


•' ahh 


ough'ineslmme!! 


win" blew! t'he 




k'nrtc 


and the thunder 








.ces might render 


their meeting 






tereslir-g. But if 


the night were 






, why should they 


meet on the lea 


ng :• 


( ';V': 





Your observation as Ii 
Percy's ballad to the ail ' 

in' the English language. 



BURNS CORRESPONDENCE. S57 

ing of ardent passion, and though it might 
them a polish, jet that polish, to me, whose 
them, would have defaced the legend of my 



aptitude of Dr 



U let 



Hiful b; 



am 'of opinion (but as I told you before, 
opinion is yours, freely yours, to approve 
reject, as you please) that my ballad of 'Nan 



verses. ' Though yon should reject one 
what I give jou, I shall be pleased wi 
adopting the <lher half, and shall con 
serve you with the same assiduity. 

In the printed copy of my ' Nannie 
name of the river is horridly prosaic. 



Saturday Morning. 
s I find I have still an hour to spare this - 
■ning before my conveyance goes away, I 
I give you ' Nannie O' at length, (bee p 
I) 
I our remarks on the ' Ewe bughts, Marion, ' 



tally i. 



Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary, 

And leave auld Scotia's shore ? 
Will ye go the Indies, my Mary, 



Oswt 




tiws 


the lim 


















Can 


nev 


req 


jil th. 


Ihae 


swor 


nby 


the tl 



Before T leavf Sc^ia^'rand? ' 
Ve hae plighted our troth, my Mary, 



< Galla Wa 


er' nnd 'Auld Rob Morris,' I 


hink, will mc 


st probably be the next subject of 






, i , ,i t, 




Mvwish :s, no 






'rcte, but cordially to join issue 


vithyou intt 


e furtherance of the work. 



No. V. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



with many beauties in its compositi 


in the'undertaking than you are aware of. There 




is a peculiar rhythmus in many of our airs and 






In my very early years, when T was thinking 


t ! 4' note?, 'of 


of going to the West Indies, I took the follow- 




. il of a dear girl. It is quite trilling. 


der almo t it ■ d ultie , For in. 


and has nothing of the merit of 'Ewe bughts ;' 




but it will fill up this page. Ycu must kuovv, 




that all my earlier love-songs were the breath- 


be adapted to it, it is ill you can expect. The 




following were made extempore to it; ana 




though, on farther study, I might give you 










turally eiiougn conjoined. 


random clink. 


••When my ploughman comes hame at e'en 




He's often wet and weary ; 


• This song Mr Thomson has not adopted fn 


Cast off the wet, put ou the dry, 


his collection. It deserves-, however, to be 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



rt I'll wear her, 



The wrastle anil (he care o' 
Wi' her 1*11 Mvll.elv Ler.r i 



place to England, will si 
taste better thaa the Collier Lassie, fall 



The powers ahoon will tent thee; 

Thou'rt like themselves sae lovely, 
That ill they'll ne'er let near thee. 



I have hitherto deferred il 
take, arid deserve, a greater 



Mil BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
HIGHLAND MARY. 

Tune—" Katherine Ogie." 

e banks, and braes, and streams around 

The castle o' Montgomery, 

reen be your woods, and fair your flowers, 

uere simmer first unfauld her robes, 



eetly bloom - d the gay, greei 



.ledging aft to r 
11! fell death's 



That wraps my Highland Mary 

) pale, pale now, those rosy lips, 

1 aft hae kiss'd sae fondly ; 
jid closed for aye, the sparkling glance, 

That dwelt on me sae kindly ! 

"shall lWe my HighTaa™ Mar"' 

IY KEAU silt, I lib. November, 1792. 

agree with you, that the song, • Katheri 



'tis the still glowing prejudicf 

i of the composition. 

y taken your idea of ' Auld Rob 



No. VII. 

AIR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
JAR SIR, Edinburgh, Nor. 179 



BURNS. -CORRESPONDEN 






"" '■"" 



j— Nannie,' I had fallen 
love with her. I thank you, therefore, for 

you wish herto appear ["before the public. 






wUlsc 



.e admit! 



of 



iking freely what I think. Be 



my. 



• 'Lea-Rig, 

well possessed.' 

Although a dash of our native t 
manners is doubtless peculiarly con 
appropriate to our melodies, yet I si 
to present a considerable number < 
Flowers of English Song, well adapted 



will 



ly poem or picture I see; my first and 
chief object is to discover and be deli. I 
the beautify of the piece. If I sit down lo 

will often see what has been overlooked by (ha 
eagle. 

I remain yours, faithfully, &c. 

P. S. Your verses upon ' Highland Mary* 



n than they 



tired ihen 



by 


cottish poets ; ai 




ib 


se of £r 


glish 




ers shall follow 


s addi 




al song 


, for 




choice of the sing 










« 


requested was, 1 


'Ewe- 




= l, i'?- : - 


t; I 




on some of the in 


ferior; 










length, thou'gh t 


luse th 


fer 


ng is°'of 


uffi- 


:": 


ed, as they will b 


- by th 


{ 


nger of t 


asie. 




pTiative merit ; tl 




uureaX 


able 


.xpe 














TaU t™e Jly l ° 


pea ve 






















m highly pleased 












ous rhapsody on 


Bonnie 


L 








and times better 


ban tl 




Collier's 


Las- 



No. VIII. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

Dumfries, 1st December, 1792. 
our alterations of my 'Nannie O' are perfeei 
;ht. So are those of « My wife's a want 
se thing.' Your alteration of the seco 

ar Sir, with the freedom which characieris 



t I think the thought 
der. beyond nil other b 

ut forth conquering an 



!e sic anither. " Howev 
Make it either way* " 



The ' Lea.rij,' is as follows. (Where the 

* Mr Thomson has decided on ' Ne'er made 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



256, with the following in addition. ) 

The huuter lo'es the morning snn, 
To rouse the mountain dear, my jo : 

Along the burn to steer, my jo ; 
Gie me the hour o' gloamin grey, 
It mak's my heart sae cheery, O, 

My aiu kind dearie, O. "' 

Z am interrupted. Yours, &c 

No. IX. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

There's auld Rob Morris that wons in yoi 

glen, 
He's the king o' guid fellows and wale o' auh 

He has go»d in his coffers, he has owsen am 

And ae bonnie lassie, his darling and mine. 

She's fresh as the morning, the fairest ii 



The night comes to me, but my rest 
I wander my lane like a night- rout 
And I sigh as my heart it wad bu 



DUNCAN GRAY. 

n Gray cam here to woo, 



Look'd asklent and unco skeigb. 
Gart poor Duncan stand abeigh ; 

Ha, ha, the wooing o't. 

Duncan fleech'd, and Duncan praj 

Ha, ha, &c 
Meg was deaf as Ailsa cra-g.f 



Ha, ha, &c. 

Time and chance are but a ti 
Ha, ha, &c 

Slighted love is sair to bide, 
Ha, h?.. &c 

Shall I, like a fool, quoth h. 

For a haughty hizzie die? 

She may gae r ' 



—France for 



Ha,b 



Ha, ha, &c. 



Duncan was a lad o' grace, 
Ha, ha, &c 



\'ow they're erouse and canty bai'th. 



4(A December, 1792. 
The foregoing I submit, my dear sir, to your 

eemetL goodT'yonr^h" "Duncan 

"... .-..: se s-allop of au 

air which precludes sentiment. The ludicrous 






No. X. 




a 


'R BURNS TO MR THOMSON, 






SONG. 






Tune— 


" I had a horse." 


Yetf 
An 


rtith c:mld 


eace between 

c.uldf.rr:-- 


r 


Owl 
Li 

Or v, 
De 


y should fa 


a flower Is" 
ane's shining 


hare, 
ing? 



lis has nothing in common with the old 
dus ballad of Duncan Gray, but (he lirst 
d part of the third. The rest is wholly 



BURNS. -CORRESPONDENCE. 



This warlc 
It's prid 

Fie, fie, o- 
That he 


's wealth when I think on 
-anda'thelaveo'tl 

hould be the slave'o'L 
O why, 4c. 




Her een sa 
How she 

But pruder 
She talk 


bonnie blue betray, 
repays my^ passion; 

O why, &c 




O wha can 
And sic 

wha car 
Andsao 


prudence think upon, 

inTovTas I am ? ° ' 
why, Qic- 




How blest 
He wooe 

Tne silly b 
Cannev 


he humble cottar s fate!* 
s his sim pie dearie; 




why ehonld fate sic pleasure have 

Or why sae sweet a flower as love, 
Depend on Fortune's shining ? 













GALLA WATER. 




There's braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes, 
That wander thro' the blooming heather ; 

But Yarrow braes, nor Etlrick shaws, 
Can match the lads o' Galla water. 


Aboon them a' I loe him be'tier ; 

And I'll be his, and hell he mine, 

The boonie lad o' Galla Water. 




Altho' his 

Yet "rich I 
We'll t 


daddie was nae laird, 
I haenameikle tocher; 

nt our flocks by Galla' W 




It ne'er w 
That co 

The bands 
that's 


l contentment, peace or p 
and bliss o' mutual love, 
thechiefest warld's treas 


alth, 
are! 




Jaguar 


y, 1793. 


Many returns of the season to you, my dear 

these two foregoing be of ony service to JOD ? 
I should like to know what songs you print to 
each tune, besides the verses to which it is set. 
In short, I would wish to give you my opinion 

is my trade ; and a man in the way of his trade 
may suggest useful hints, that escape men of 

things. 

If you meet with my dear, and much-valued 
C. greet hiui in my name, with the compli- 
ments of the season. 

Yours, &c 


, 


• 


. 



No. XI. 

MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
Edinburgh, J<mua>-y, 20A, 1793. 



happy to see the charming sc 
at me. Many merry return 
you, and may you long cont: 






delight them, and to honour yourself. 

The four last songs with which you favoc 
me, for ■ Auld Rob Morris, Duncan Gr 
Galla Water,' and • Cauld Kail,' ore admi 



au 


•7; 


than of one 
We inten 


i l y 


hich nothing c 
senting the su 




h 


wo beautiful 






d 




teristicofth 


: \'> 


intive, and "the 


th 




ely songs ; a 


nd 


have Dr Beatt 


! 


.rA 


mus n ic 6S if y M 


dl 


llh will permi 




h 




of 




d, 




be many cu 


ton 


anecdotes re 


lie 




late Mr Tyt 
knew more c 


ere 
f th 


s than any bod 



-- J possessing an enthusiasm for music bejond 



nchI-.":. 


v 


ich oeco 


sioned the verses, it wou 






g. Pra 




nforma 




of this 


ort, as well with regard 










" Yoa 




e favour 








nd, will 


be joined the delicate a 


■ 


i' ,: ' 


nts, &c 


of Pleyel. To those 
ous class, I think accon 








necessary ; they are chiei 


l.t'ed f. 




■ 


ality of the festive boar 



' men'ts, because then th 
singing, or for instrumei 
there happens to be no s 
ploy our right tri. = rj_ Ir 



■e kiud, But 



I !b ! 



262 DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

will not attempt to find more than one 
That eccentric bard Peter Pindar, ha 









ng I 




nly 






egory.' The Scots verses r 




are taken from the middle 




led, 'The lass of Lochroya 








a. creditor of yours. Many 


of t 


gs are repleie with wit and 


;u:n 



POSTSCRIPT. 

FROM THE HON. A. ERSK.INE. 

Mr Thomson has been so obliging as to gr 
me a perusal of your songs. 'Highland Mar; 
is most enchantingly pathetic, and ' Dune; 



■ly < The Sow's tail to Ceordie, 



md I will add, to every genuine Calcdor.i; 
sprigbtliness of our native music', than ai 



The 


very name of Pet 


Br Pindar, is an 
His 'Gregory 




in Scots, on the 
our service. No 
s with Peter ; tha 
deed. My song. 


to give you a set 
hough much infer 



LORD GREGORY, 
lirk is this midnight hour 
"'"""L 9 thrower. 



Lord Gregory ope thy d. 

.n exile frae her father' 
And a* for loving thee 



son in Dumfries to write them over fair, "l wi:i 


Lord Gregory, mind'st thou not the grove, 


give Peter Hill whatever money he asks for 


By bonnie lrwine side, 


bis trouble; and I certainly shall not betray 


Where first I uwu'd that virgin love 






ANDREW ERSKINE. 


How aften didst thou pledge and vow. 
Thou wad for ave be mine ; 




And my fond heart itsel sae true, 





It ne"'er mistrusted thine. 


No. XII. 


Hard is thy heart. Lord Gregory, 


MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 


Th^u d dari'of Heaven" haV flashes! by, 










I approve greatly, my dear sir, of your plans. 


Ye mustering thunders from above, 


Dr Beattie's essay will of itself be a treasure. 




Ou my parr, [ mean to draw up an app»nd'x 




to the Doctor's essay, containing my s.oek of 




anecdotes. &c of our *cots songs. All the 




late Mr Tytler's anecdotes I have by me, taken 




down in the course of my acquaintance, with 


* The song of Dr Walcott on the same tub 




jeet is as followB : 


thusiast, that in the course of my several pere- 




grinations through Scotland, I made a pilgrim. 


Ah ope. Lord Gregory, thy door, 


srfngfook its'r'iseV 'Toc^er^'and .be ' Brfes 




of BaUenden,* excepted. So far as the local- 


And lightnings cleave the skies. 


ity, eilher from the title of the air, or ihe tenor 




of the song, conld be ascertained, I have paid 






A pilgrim of the gloom, 




If she whose love did ouee delight, 


I do not doubt but" you might make a very 


My cot shall yield her room. 


valuable collection of Jacobite songs— but 






Alas ! thou heard'st a pilgrim moHin, 


is not you think that some of them, parlica- 


That ouoe was priz'd by thee ; 



BUUNS.-CORUESPO.NDElxiE. 



po^cripUn" your last. He shall hear fir 

No. xnr. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
20'M March, 179: 
MARY MORISON. 
Tune-f* Bide ye yet." 

O Mary, at thy window be. 

It is the wish'd, the trysled hour; 

Those smiles and glances let me see. 
That make the miter's treasure poor ; 

llow hlythely wad 1 bide the stoure, 

Could 1 the rich reward secure, 
The lovely Mary Morisou. 



O Mary, canst thou wreck his peac, 

Wha for thy sake wad gladly die 
Or canst ihou break that heart of hi 

Whase only faul is loving thee? 
If love for love thou wil; na gie, 

At least be pity to me shown; 
A thought ungentle cauna be 

The thought o' Marj Murison. 



ang prefixed is one of my j 



No. XIV. 

mr burns to mr Thomson. 

March, 1793 
WANDERING WILLIE. 

ire awa, there awa, wandering Willie, 

ind'teU method bHifg'st'rne my Willie 



in the cave o' your slum 
, r o" O, g S en.ly\" lnl'Z[ 



No. XV. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 





™> 


emarkable either for its me 


„- s , 


OPEN THE DOOR TO ME, OH! 




It is impossible (at least I fe 










ed powers) to be always origi 




WITH ALTERATIONS. 














M,bV 


omeof the List, &c. of your so: 


gs? 


Oh open the door, some pity So show 


I shall 
I have 
of indo 
accord 


beout 


of all temper with vou by and 
looked on myself as the pr 


n'; 


Oh, open 1 he door to me, Ob.* 
Tho' thou hast been false. I'll ever prove (rue, 
Oh, open the door to me Oh. 


ship fr 




, or any body else. 




But caulder thy lovefor me,' Oh : 










The frost that freezes the life at my heart. 


Think 


of the 


ring by yonder burn 




Is nought to my pains frae thee, Oh. 


Tho 


gav' 


t .o love and me. 




The wan moon is setting behind the white 


E ri s i h 


onld's 


y'fe™ an'd'p'art ^ a " an lm ° W ' 




And time 'is setting with me. Oh 


Andth 




storms that round me blow, 




False friends, false love, farewell '. for ever 


Far 


kuidoi 

tut d< 

;al In 


than thy heart. 

ing justice to I>r Walcott to n 


,": 


I'll ne'er trouble them nor thee. Oh. 



tyom an old Scottish ballad of ui 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



n*d the door, she b 



he cried, and sank down by his 



No. XVI. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

JESSIE. 

Tune — " Bonnie Dundee. " 

trne hearted was he, the sad swain o' the 



d fair 



a the b 



-• the 





* WANDERING WILLIE. 




* 


ALTERED BY MR ERSKINB A 




Here 

lie 

Te 


awa, ther 

me thou 


awa, wandering Willie 

dui my ain only dearie. 
bring'st me my Will 


Irh. 


Wint 


er-winds b 


ewloudandcauldatour 


part- 


FearHor my 


Willie brought tears i 


. m, 


Welc 


" Willie, ' 


simmer, and welcome 


m, 



GrIce!^amv!'aud J ele S l e a!nc^ filter 'her lo«"', i EeSt ' JE wild St ° ,mS ' '" tbe eave °' J™' slaIB - 
And' maidenly modes°ty fixes the chain. j IIqw ^ s u ' r dread how i; ng a lover a i 9rlnB , 

Ofresh^tl™ 



3 faithless and minds na hia 
tween us, thou daik-heaving 



No. XVII. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 

Edinburgh, 11 Api 
the prince of indolent correspond 






Ilsr. 



g Willie, 



lien fit you 



strictures upon every thing el 



yourself, ! Here awa, there aw 

, I think the Tell me thou.bring'st me my Willie the san:». 
It gives me I 

iese will be a ing, 

I Fears for my Willi. 



Willie, 



my Willie to me. 
wild storms, in the cave of your slurs 



that I might serve up some of them !0 y 
your own verses, by way of dessert af ._ _ 

symphonies, and such a delicate simplicity in I But, dying, 
I am very much pleased with the several last | importance 



ut oh, if he 5 * faithless, and minds na fcis 
Nannie, 
ill between us thou wide-roaring main . 

that my Willie™ my ain. 



BURNS. — CORaliSPONDENCE, 
wistfully si 



No. XVIII. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

IVHEN WILD WAR'S DEADLY BLAST 

WAS BLAWN. 

4ir—«' The Mill, MillO." 



Where lang I'd be 

My humble knapsack 

A poor and honest 

A leal light heart wa! 



:h I reach'd the be 
•e early Lfe I sporl 
1 the mill and trysl 



! happy, happy may he be, 
That's dearest to thy bosom : 

My purse is light, I've far to gang, 
And fain wad be thy lodger ; 



itmaybepresum 


erl, for the sake of suiting the 




the music. The Homeric 






by Mr Erskine, i 


in itself more beautiful, as 


well perhaps a_ 


more sublime than wide- 


roaring, which 


he has retained ; but as it is 


only applicable t 


a placid state of the sea, or 


at mo-,1 to the s 


well left on its surface after 




r, it gives a picture of that 


element not so w 


ell adapted to the ideas of eter- 






posed to impree 


te. From the original song 
Villie,' Burns has borrowed 


of « Here awa 


nothing but the 


second line and part of tile 


first. The supe 


ior excellence of this beautiful 


poem will, it is 


hoped, justify the different 



She gazed— she 


redden'd like 


Syne pale like 


onjMly; 


She sank within 




Art thou my a 


n de"ar Willi 


By Him who ma 




Ia?n.bem=n rUe 


love's regard 






True lovers be 


rewarded. 


The wars are o'e 


r, and I'm cc 




till true hear 


Tho' poor in gea 
And mair we's 


, we're rich 


e ne'er be pai 


Quo' she, my gr 


ndsireleftm 



A ma.lin plenish'd fairly ; 

And come, my faithful sodger lad, 

Thou'rt welcome to it dearly * 



11 


day 


and hour of danger. 























MEG 0' THE MILL 




A 


,— 


OB 


nnie Lass wi 
Barrack!" 


.you lie i 


Ok 

She 


nye 

h"A 

Lrul: 


\ih'. 


Meg o' the Mi 

Meg o' the M 

heart o' the b 


irley 


Miller 


The 


Mil 




as strappin', 


the 


Miller 


Ah 
The 
She 


s left the g 


widdiefu', bl 

uid fellow and 


ikec 


^ady 

the ,-: 


The 


Mill 


rhe 


echt her a he 


rt 1 


•alanc 


The Lair 


d' did 


address her 


wi' 


matter 



gie me my love, and a fig for the narld. 

No. XIX. 

MB BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

-th April, 1793. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Yon cannot imagine tow much this business 
of composing for jour publication has added to 
my enjoyments, What with my early attach- 
ment to ballads, your book, &c. ballad-making 
is now as completely my hobby-horse, as ever 
fortification was Uncle Toby's; so I'll e'en 

race, (God grant that I may take the right 
t!) and then cheerfully 



■g back 01 

>een happy, I shall say, i 



• Good night 



t.ful 



es of 'The last time I cameo 



e of Ran 



lir. I shall try t< 
• For ever, Fortune, wilt t 
charming song ; but ' Logai 

pery : I'll try that likewise, 
the other song may class air 
ones. I remember the Us, 

Water.' (for I know a goo 






and Logan braes. ' ' 
jvergay.'isuneqna 



This is surely far unworthy of Ramsa 
your book. My song, • Rigs of Barle; 

but if lean mend it, and thresh a few 



for the honour of this 



:ng hay, bareheaded, on the green.' My Lord 
observed to Allan, that it would be a fine themo 
for a song. Ramsay took the hint, and ling- 
ering behind, he composed the first sketch of it, 





'The mill, m 


11 0,' t 


•nigh 


lent, is, < 


n account of 






le; still I 


ike the title, 








uit the notes 




let ■ 


osen song, 








English Be 


t. ' The Ba 


ks of th 






terally Lang 






e song is well enough," 


ut has e 




agery in it 


for instance, 







' And sweetly the nightingale sung froi 






nightingale sings ir 



the banks of any other river in Scotland. 
Exotic rural imagery is always comparatively 
fiat. If I could hit on another stanza equal 
to < The small birds reioice.' &c. Idomjs.lf 



, John* 



's ,'lu. 



n jo_ 



: If" it 






mble'judgmenl 
ion. There is 



igs, is, in my opinion, very 

it L^m7sT''puddii'i, Tibbie 
Jinl others, which, in my 
are well worthy of preser- 



opinion of Mr Clarke, i 



' Shepherds' I h 
heavenly air_w 

go'od whileajo, 


ugh they are c 
lve lost my lov 
■at would you t 

which 1 think 


erUinly-Iri^h. 


sS-3 


u its original st 

I inclose a 

ryou, if you cl 

et the Irish ver 


pSr t s 


* It will be f 


und in the cou 


se of this cor- 


"InzTof'The ( 

he here alludes) 

T Mr Thomso 

of this song, ev 


hevalier's Lam 
worthy of the ii 

n'ini^olure'd' 


uced a second 



BURNS. —CORRESPONDENCE. 



Mr Erskine's songs are all pretty, but hie 
« Lone vale ■ is divine. 

Yours, &e. 

Let tne Itnow just how you like these random 



No. XX. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 

Edinburgh, April. 1793. 
I rejoice to find, my dear sir, that ballad- 
hope you wiil amble it away for many a year 
and " witch the world with your horseman- 
ship. " 

sent yon j but I have them all in my eye. 
« My Patie is a lover gay,' though a little un- 

I humbly ihii.k we ought not to displace n- al- 
ter it except the last stanza.* 

No. XXL 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
April, 1793. 






Uvays equally happy in his pieces ; still 

uthor as Mr W. proposes doing with 
ast time I came o'er Die Moor.' Let a poe 
hooses, take up the idea of anolher, am 
t into a piece of his own ; but to man° 
vorks of the poor bard whose tuneful i 

louse— by Heaven 'twould be sacrileg 
;rant that Mr W's version is an im 



Highlander mended his gun ;-he gave i 
a new stock, and a new lock, and a Dev 
barrel. 

o' Pa'fe's Mill,' must be left out; the son { 






ny of our t, 



>rity. Your book will b< 



t this idea ever 
'nt'oast in this 



by Mr Erskine, I entirely approve of, ; 



Ion on .his business, can you come by 
Dumfries? I have still several MS. Scois airs 
by me which 1 have picked ud, mostly from the 

va n s!i n ? but ", ' i ' u d 1Ca e S rhiT e 

pronounce ihcm -iil) , ^ Do JouUiow a fine air 



the music, wi:!:!] a: h's .->->-, are suppressed 
Tbe subsequent letter of Mr Burns refers to se 

. i The reader has already seen that Burn; did 



= .a- to (he tune of ' Bonnie Dundee 
Xc. XVI. The ballad to the • Mil 
i that beginning, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



thein ready to send to Johnson's Museum.* 
which I had taken down from viva voce, t 



No. XXII. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



Tune— " The last time I came o'er 
Farewell thou stream that winding 

Condemn 'd to draj a hopeless chai 

And still in secret lansruish ; 
To feel a lire i 



April, 1793. 
o'er the moor. ' 



The wretch of lore, 
The turning sigh," 



anguish. 



I saw thine 


eyes vet 


nothing 


f.-nr'd 






'Till fear 












The unwar 
























'Mid circl:' 


g horror 


yields 








To overw 


helming 


ain. 








MY DEAR 


SIR, 










I had scarcely put 


my last 


■Iter in 


to the post- 


office, whe 






bject o 


f -The 






e Moor 




ere I 


lept 


drew the o 




he fore 




How 




have succe 


ded, I 1 








•■=■: 


other occa- 








I own 




vanity is fl 


itered, « 




give 


my songs "a 


be^fs'erv" 


ur elegan 






ork; b 




e to the work is 


"t" 


wish 


A; 


I have ofte 


n toldyo 


a, I do 




a-ii.ri 




stance wish 


yon, ont 


jfeomp 


m.rit 




oin- 



latere* Mr Pleyel does, let him not al- 
iota of the original Scottish airs ; I 
I the song department ; but let our 
music preserve its native features. 



* The song here mentioned is that given in 
No. XVIII. • O ken ye what Meg o* the mill 
h-iS gotten.' This song is surely Mr Burns's 

t The air here mentioned is that for which 
be wrote the ballad of • Bonny Jean,' to be 
found, n. 203, 



No. XXIIL 

MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 

Edinburgh, 26th April, 1793. 
I heartily thank you, my dear sir, for your last 

ness with which you speak out your mind, is 
to me highly agreeable. It is very possible I 
may not have the true idea of simplicity in 
composition. I confess there are several songs 
of Allan Ramsay's for example, that I think 

ver'sant than I have been with country people, 






rally, if copied precisely as they 



:: for 



enlle as well as 



enlarge; but at present suffice it to say, that I 

consider simplicity, rglitiy understood, as a 

ground-work of heauty in all the arts'. I will 
gladly appropriate your most interesting new 
ballad ' When wild war's deadly blast,' &e. 
to the 'Mill, mill, O,' as well as the other 
two songs to their respective airs; but the 
third and fourth lines of the first vertes must 



,e pleases, but that has nothing to do with the 

P. S I wish you would do as you proposed 

rilh your ' Rigs o' Barley. ' If the loose 

n air for it ; but as to this there is no hurry. 

No. XXIV. 

MR BURNS 10 MR THOMSON. 



Iliads. My own less, 
, is trifling; but the 

; - 



*s a positive beauty : so you see how d< 

I can muster, go on with your commands. 

You know Fraser, the hautboy play 

Edinburgh—he is here instructing a bai 

music for a fencible corps f - 



BURNS CORRESPONDENCE. 

see how doctors 
much alacrity as 



plea. 



le of ' The Qua 



wife ;' and w 



me that its querulous melody probably had its 



for it, which I here subjoin ; and l 
Eraser's set of the tune. If they hi 
fancy they are at your service ; if not, 
me the tune, and I will put it in Joh 
Museum. I think the song is not in my 



Blythe hae I been on yon hill, 

As the lambs before me ; 
Careless ilka thought and free, 

As the breeze flew o'er me : 

Mirth or sang can please me, 
Lesley is sae fair and coy, 
Care and anguish seize me. 

Heavy, heavy is the task 

Hopeless love declaring : 
Trembling, I dow nocht but glowr, 

Sighing, dumb, despairing ! 
If she winna ease the thraws, 

Underneath the grass green sod, 
Soon maun be my dwelling. 

I should wish to hear how this pleases you 

No. XXV. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 









Janmr 


y, 5, 1793. 


Have you ever, m 

those mighty vill 
against kingdom, 


•' ; Jl - 
t t. 


ar sir, fe 

ignatioa 
who di 


t your bosom 
on reading of 

nces, and lay 
nessof ambi- 
Me passions? 


£Wft 


£ 


vt;' 


t j'' "and' 


I recolleced 
t occurred to 


and the first 
Work was ii 
tured, by Mr 
for them in t 




';■= 


s' advice, 


alltman ven- 


« And eyes 
That had b 


Et 


ear 


d with ii 


ourning." 


artTnleHortc 


- U 


"y 


the mus 
nal. Tb 
Mr Tho 


c, these lines 
s is the only 
mson, which 



melta 




in three quarteis of an hour' 
y elbow chair, ought to hav 


somen 


erit. 






Tune 


-"Logan water." 


0, L<-s 


an sweetly didst thou glide, 


That d 




u-\ V, i!iie'» Irid.;; 








Like L 




he simmer sun. 


But no 


wtheflo 


%ery b an ks appear 


Like d 




iter, J irk and drear, 






ad maun face bis faes, 


Far, fa 


T frae m 


and Logan braes. 


Again 


he merry mouth o* May, 








The bii 




in leafy bowers, 


The be 




und the breathing Sowers: 


Blylhe 




,y eye, _ 




•-ling's I 




My sou 


. 




While 


Willis-., 


far frae Logan braes. 


Within 


yon mil 


--white hawthorn bush, 


" 




ngssits the thrush: 




hfu* ma 


e will share her toil, 


Or wi' 


his song 




But I, 


wi' mys 




Naem 


te to hel 




Pass w 






While 


Willie's 


ar frae Logan braes. 


Owae 


pon vou 


men o' state, 


Thatb 






As yen 


ake man 


v a fond heart mourn, 


How ca 


v;zi 


nty hearts enjoy 






rs, tbe orphan's cry ;* 




n may pe 


ace tring happy days, 


And W 




to Logan braes ! 


Do y 


3U know 


the following beautiful little 


fragn.e 


t, in Wi 


herspoou's Collection of Scots 


Songs. 








Air—' 


Hughie Graham." 


"Os 


in my lo 


re were yon red rose, 


Tb 






And 
Int 


/heTbon 


,te r: b P re ast d to V fa': 


"Oh 


there be 


yond expression blest, 


I'd 


feast on 


neautv a' the night ; 


Seal 'don her 


ilk-saft faulds to rest, - 


Til 


fley'd a 


vaby Phcebus' light." 


This 


thought 


is inexpressibly beautiful ; 


short fo 


r a song 


else I would forswear you 


* Or 






"Ye 


mindna 


'mid your cruel joys, 


The w 


idow'st 


srs, the orphan s cries. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



together, uu'.ess you gave 



The verses are far iuferior to the foregoing, 
I frankly confess : but if worthy of insertion 

poet, who* knows any thing of his trade, will 
husband his best thoughts for a concluding 



No. XXVI. 


There was a lass, and she was fair, 


31R THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 






When a 1 the fairest maids were met. 


Monday, 1st July, 17D3. 


The fairest maid was bonnie Jean 


I am extremely sorry, my good sir, that any 
thing should happen to unhinge jou. The 
tiu.es are terribly out of rune, and when bar- 


And aye she sang sae merrily j 
The bl\lbe=t bird upon the buab 


The lirst book of songs, just published, will 


Had ne'er a lighter heart than she 


be despatched to you along with this. Let 
me be favoured with your opinion of it frankly 

1 shall certainly give a place to the song you 
have written for the • y u -ikers Wife;' it is 


But hawks will rob the tender joys 
That bless the little lintwhite's nes 


And frost will blight the fairest flowe 
And love will break the soundest rt 


quid enchanting. Pray, will you return the 


Young Robie was the brawest lad, 




The llower and pride of a' the glen 


' V ' ^r°ed ""join 'in" Ci| "eu tb£ 


And be had owsen, sheep and kye, 




1 cannot be. The superior" excellence of the 


He iraed wi' Jeanie to ihe tryst. 








Her heart was tint, her peace was 


I should be somewhat compensated for my 
labour, by the pleasure I should receive from 
the music. I cannot express how much I am 


As in the bosom o' the stream. 

The moon-beam dwells at dewy e'e 


oMiged to you for the exquisite new so gs you 


Within the breast o 1 bonnie Jean. 



Wednezday morning. 



elegant one will follow for the English singer. 

supposed gentle character of the fair mourner 
who speaks it. 

No. XXVII. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

July 2, 1793. 

I have just finished the following ballad, mid 
as I do think it in my best style, I 6end it you. 

Burns' woud-note wild, is very fond of it ; and 
has given it a celebrity by teaching it to some 
young ladies of the first fashion here. If you 
do not like the air enough to give it a place in 
your collection, please return it. The soug 



And now sh 




rks her 


mammie 


's wars, 


And aye 




igus wi 






Or what 


Jad 


at her ail might 
mak her weel ag 




But did na 

And did n 

As Kobie ta 


Jeanie's h»a 
a joy blink i 

uld a tale o 
on the lily 


lea? 


ight. 


The sun wa 

The birds 
His cheek I 
And whis 


per' 


king in 
°s he fon 


he west 

n ilka g 
dly pres 


rove; 



BURNS CORRESPONDENCE. 

dear ; | get of what place 



At barn or byre then shalt na drud 
Or naelbiug else to trouble thee 



artless Jeanie do ? 



re some thoughts of ir 
or in my notes, the n: 
e themes of my songs. 



,-, why torment us— poor sons of a day !" 

old ballad, < I wish I were where Helen 
is silly toeonlemptibility.* My alteration 
in Johnson's is not much better. Mr Pin- 
in, iu his, what he calls, Ancient Ballads 
(man, of them notorious, though beautiful 
enough forgeries) has the best set. It is full of 

'lnTy , n«triVurs7gg n est n0ma 



your hurried notice. In the ; 
j the quill. "You have : com mitt! 






ha the dre^s and character 



No. XXVIII. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



• of affeci 



, Kow. 



any n 



fioof tl 

by that Honour which crowns the uprighi s 
tue of Robert Burns "s Integrity—on the le 
motion of it, I will indignantly spurn the 
past transaction, and from that moment cc 



supply : 
Thank 



j ou tor my copy of you 
id my eyes behold, iu 



Gllthv, 



»uy i 



•ss. Your 

partiality to'me lias made you tay to., mu'e. ; 
however, it will bind me down to double every 
effort iu the future progress of the work. The 
following are a few remarks on the scuts in the 



' The Flow 



)flhe: 



•« I hae seen the smiling o' fort 
ing." 



No. XXIX. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS, 
Edinburgh, August, 1793. 
I had the pleasure of receiving your last two 

accompanied, you will be charmed with them. 
• The bonnie brucket Lassie,' certainly de- 
serves belter lerses, and 1 hope you will match 
her. ' Cauld kail in Aberdeen",' • Let me in 
this ae night,' and several of the livelier airs, 

worthy of her choicest gills; besides, you'll 
quair,' • Lord Gregory, 3 and the like ; for iu 



disguised by the very slow, languid, psalm- 
singing style in which they are too often per. 



oubtediy grace my collectioi 



* There is a copy cf this baUad given 
ihe account of the parish of Kirkpatrick- Flea 
ing, (which contains the tomb of Fair Hel. 
Irvine, ) in the statistics of Sir John Sincla 
Vol. XIII. p. 275, to which this character 
certainly not opplicible. 



No. XXX. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

Aupisl, 1793. 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

I have ju9t put the last hand (o the son? t 

meant for ' C'tinM Kill in ai.»rt AAn » If :. 



t'my 'elbow. Tue 


friend Clarke, who, al 
Georg.um Sidus,' he 




uot eloop to terrestrial 


flairs. 
He send, you ri of 


:he Hond»au subjects, 
be says jou sbs.ll bare 



No. XX XL 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

Augvd, 1793. 

'our objection, my dear sir, to the pa-sng< 

,,,,, so^ of -Logan Water, 'i, right in on 

i-.Hi.ce; but it BJ difficult to me d it: .1 

1 line tried my hand ou ' Robin Adair,' an 
»u -.11 probably think with little success 

ica.ure, tbai I despair of doing any thm 

PHILLIS THE FAIR. 
Tune — •' Robin Adair." 

While larks with li'lle wing. 

I'.iin'dlbepmear, 
T»»tmg the breathing ipTisuj, 

Forth 1 did f.re ; 
Gay the sun', golden eye, 
Peep'd o'er the mountains high j 
Such tbj morn '. did I cry, 

Phillis the fair. 

In each 1 

GUI, I did sbate; 
While yon wild flower* among. 

Chance I - 
Sweet to the opningdaj. 
Rosebuds b-nt the dewy spray ; 
Suc'i tbv bloom, did I say, 
the fair. 

Down in a shady walk, 

I mark'd the cruel bank 

Caught in a -nare : 
So kin I 
Stub make'. 
lie who would injure thee, 

Phillis the fair. 

So much for namby-pamby. I mar, aflei 
I, try mv band o.i it in Scos verse. Then 



e pleased b cause I wish, and w 
see you act decidedly on the bu 
is a tribute as a man of taste, a 
, which you owe yourself. 



No. XXXII. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
Augutt, 1793. 












ilu-d epistles. Pray rr 

em* Ij St Stephen for tue mn 

Imll the justness of his complaint on my 

a r ci.se, conveyed in his laconic postcript to 

mr j.u d'aprit ; which I perused more than 

ice without dsrovering exactly whether your 

ougb a sagacious friend, acquainted with the 
*>i.l habits of the poet and the musician, 

..owning car,- together; that on empty bowl 
»as the .....I. thing that would deeply affect 
y u u, and the only matter you could then study 

I shall be glad to see you give ■ RoLin 
Adair' a Scotch arcs. Peter is furnishing 
bim with an Bngliah suit for a chance, and 
you are well matched tug-ih-r. Rob.n's air 
is excellent, though he certainly has an out of 
the way meu-ure as ever poor Parnassian 
wight was plagued «:ih. I wish you would 
invoke .lie muse for a .ingle elegant stanza to 
be substituted for the concluding objectionable 

mo.t exquisite song may no longer be excluded 
from good company. 

Mr Allan ha, made an inimitable drawing 
I hn Anderson my Jo, ' which I 
ini to have engraved, as a frontispiece to the 
lumorous c^a-s of songs; you will be quite 
.harmed with t, I pron.i.e you. The old 
.ouple are sealed by the fireside. Mrs Ander- 
son in great good l.umour, is clapping John's 
»b,u!ders, while he sm.les and looks al ber 

lects the pleasant days a.id nights when ibey 
were • Cr.t sequent. ' The drawing would do 
honour to the pencil of Tenors. 



No. XXXIIL 
MT. IIURNSTO MR THOMSON. 
August, 17 03. 

d so i'll 



That crir.kumleranknm » 






.1 1 bar. 






it The song sent herewith fa that in p. 193. 



morning's walk, one 



BURNS CORRESPONDENCE. 



The yellow corn was 



II thy fond plighted vows— fle< 

Laugh o'er thy p-rjury. 

Then ill thy bosom try, 

What peace id there. 



ing minstrels, harpers, aud pipers, used to gc 
frequently errant through the wilds both ot 
Scotland and Ireland, and so some favourite 
airs might be .common to both A ease in 

lish." The : iiun of Corri's, 

a great while ago, you will find the same air, 
called a Highland one, with a Caelia son- >a 



No. XXXIV, 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
August, 1793. 



n glad you are pleased 'with my e 
a cave,' &e. as I liked it myself. 



,g, « Had 
id V when turn- 



raved under the shadow of an old thoi 



No. XXXV. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

August, 1793 

Is ' Whi.tle and I'll come to you, my la 

oneofyoorairs? I admire it much : and y 

whom 1 met with b^beygeTthem'of me, 



* A mountain west of Strath-Allan, 8i 
eet high._R B. 
f Or, "O mv love Annie's very bcnnie. 

R. B. 
t In some of the MSS. the first four 1 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

liter and a' eoould gae ' Bui beautv, bow frail and lio» fiwCi-ir, 
! The bloom of a Hue summer "a day ! 
' While worth in (he mind o' in, l'h'.lli. 



' <"<•• back-yet 



Will flouriah withutit a decay 

IAwa, &c. 
Mr Clarke begs you to pi 
, (lnaieof hi She U HirTis 

u shall hear froni me, tb< 
get from my rhyming mill. 



d protest (hit >e core noe for me, 
. je may lightly my beauty a wee 
i«e nnilher though j.rkii^ ye be. 
mi sire wyle jooi I 



<ltei favourite oirof mine it • Tin- muck- 
irordie'a byra.' 

m iahad that it bad had 
UTJ ; tt.-t 1 have vwieavi urrti to >u 



I* your telle* and your beaulita. 

The J..'.»y amuted my fond fancy. 
So ortloaj, to tiu.ule, no wild ; 

Thou emblem, taid I. o* my PbUlas, 
For the i* Simplicity child. 

The rotebud't the bla»h o' my cbarmrr, 



No. XXXVI. 

Mil BURNS TO MH THOMSON. 



• Ould Kail, ' is such a favourite of 
your*, that 1 once more roved out srkl.rJ.iy 
for ■ RiiMiiniii-tho! It lb* iiiunet jt when the 

rather my old inspiring dearcut n\ m;. I, Col.., 
whispered n>.- tbr following. 1 have two rea- 



ojgh the •jr'.cn-sprcoding 



whistle and I'll come 
O whistle and I'll come 
1W father and mother 



dia{ without tlcp," 
the song on my glowing fancy. In the iirat 



il.r_"CauUlKoil. " 

Come Iri me lake thee lo my breat 

And I aboil *puru o» vileat dual. 
The warld'a wealth and grandeu 

I atk for dearest life alone 
| .Thai I may lire lo love her. 

Thut in my arms, wi' n' thy chari 
I clasp my countless treasure; 

And by tin een, >ae bonnie blue, 

I »«.^r I'm thine Uit ever '. 
Anu on thy lipt I teal my vow, 

If rod think the above will full i 



la'nly beautiful. wo« 
ittge without th.- ch 
,- with several other 



t Gloamin,'_lwiiight, prcbally from doom- 
ing. A beautiful poetical word a 
In b.- adopted in England. A g!-- -. 
m light interview. 



5. -CORRESPONDENCE. 8TS 

°i T'liT MU TH0MS0N T0 WR BURNS. 

oi,1 S- Edinburgh, Ut Sept. 1793. 



No. XXXVII. 

MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 



lit, I h 



ighted 








DAINTY 


:-.\\ie. 


v rosy a 


ay comes In 


;^z 


o wande 


r wV mv Da 
Ckor 


appjr ho 


Meet m 


on the war 


cck kno 



When purple morning sfnr'.s the- hare 
To steal upon ber earlj fare, 
Then through the dews I will repair. 
To meet my faithfu' Davie. 



When day, expiring in 



• 3 my ain dear Davie, 
le on the -warlock knovre, 



N. B. In the .Museum thev have drawle 
out the tune to twelve lineo of poetry, whic 

is nonsense. Four linis of eeag, an 

four of chorus, is ihe way. 



, '•'■"' 


ling 


Nth, 




i « B 


A l"lan 


"»'v 


: "V 


it'll ihl ,-, 


rs for 


'which* 


i.'t's 




• Ha 


[•, 


"';,y 


fTectTng 




O'u'r 


friend 






-lory it 


Lh ! 


on'w 


; !.,'.- = 


';;'" 


?5: 






the musie t 


.iii.' - 




slerity. 


Isen 


ndlj 


y exist 


Vlu 


ong a» 












prcpil 


ous, I 


■■£ 


'to' 


% 


Lr.'' 


of a.l 
no few 


ihe fa- 
er than 


'V' 




I ha. 


e buri 


ei.ed i' 


ng airs 


ad" t 


'"n, 


V ;; 


the 


°:; ! s"' 






- - 


h F o 






flh 










hy.h.n, 




t Le 











No. XXXIX. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

Yon may readily trust, my oear sir, that anj 

to your publication, so get a verse from him 
well as I calVto bear 'the burden of the busi- 






dilion, which I have met with in many plac 
of Scotland, that it was Robert Bruce 'e man 
at the battle of Baunockburn. This though 



• up;. use (o be the gallant Royal Scot' 
to his heroic followers oo that eveutl 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

No. XL. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON, 






BRUCE TO HIS TROOPS'. 
N TUB EVE OF TUB BATTLB 

To its oho Tune. 

Scot., wha hae wi' WalUcr bird, 
Kcol. wham iirt/ce bav i.ftcn letl ( 
Welcome to your gory bed, 



Wh» for Scotland's lung and law, 
FrreJom's .word w.ll strongly draw, 
Frrc.man Hand or Vrecwum ftf. 

Let him tollow me : 



Lot the proud usurpers low I 
Tyrant, tall in rterj foe! 
L:bc,ty'i in every blow.' 
Let us Lh, cr Die I 

So may Cod ever defend the cause of Trulb 
and Libor ly, a. he did that day ! _ Amen. 

P. B.— 1 showed the air 10 Urban , irbe was 
highly pleav . d with it, and begird me to make 
soft verses lor it i but 1 had no id. a of giving 
myself any trouble on the subject, till tae acci- 
dental recollection of that gioriou> Struggle for 
freedom, ossucmted with the glow 
some other struggles of the sam. 

C.arsVs 'set'of the tune, w.th his bass), you 
will liod in the Museum j thou z h 1 am afraid 



* This noi:» ..train was 
»oet during a storm among 
Ken, in Galloway. A tnoie 



finished cop j will 



Sept. 1793. 
e say, my dear sir, that you will begin 



has yet this blessed headstrong properly, that 
when once it has fairly made oft' with a bap- 
le.s w,gl,t. it get. so enamoured with the 
tinkle-gmgle, tinklc-gingie of it. own bells, 
that it ia sure to run poor Pil-garl c. the bed- 
I'liil jockey, ljuile b.joud liny useful point or 

I he following s..ng I have composed for 

* Oran gaoil, the Highland air that you tell me» 

lived to give a place 

the song; so you havo it glowii.g from Ilia 

well! 

Tune— " Oran-gaoil." 



Along the solitary shore, 

\\ bile flitting sea-fowl round me en 
Across the rolling, dashing roar, 

II ' " ".Lo^lnd'an' "rove""!'-!! M >C ' 
Svbcre now my Naniy'. path may b 

v\ h le ti.ro.jgh thy sweets she love, to i 
O tell tue doe. she muse ou me ! 



No. XL I. 

MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 

Edt'niurgA, 5(A Sept 1 703. 

I beliere it is generally allowed that the great- 

■ s: modesty is the sore attendant of the great. 

you speak of them as if they were ordinary pro- 
ductions ! Your heroic ode is to me the no- 
blest composition of the kind in tie Scottish 
language. I happened to dine yesterday with 
a party of your friends, to whom I read it. 
Ihey were all charmed with it, entreated me 

the idea of giving it a tune so totally devoid of 
interest or grandeur as 'Hey tutlie taittie.' As- 
suredly your partiality for this lune mu-t arise 



BURNS CORRESPONDENCE. 

sh airs— I say t never heard any one speak of , * Through the i 

I have been running over the whole hun- j ver be peace ti 

ad I think ' Lewie Gordon' is most happily tion of the first p 
iapted to you 



>od laddie :' I om decidedly 
!h in this and • there'll ne- 
Jaroie comes hame,' ths 
t of the tune being a repeti- 



jf the fourth line, 
jbmit to you. T 



iKi.jii I 



• Cowden-k 



ie song iu pure English tc 



about substituting your ode in the room of 
« Lewie Gordon,' which has neither the inter- | 

the only line loo short for the air, is as follows : 

Verse 1st, Or to glorious victorie. 

2d, Chains -chains and slavene. 

3d, Let him, let him turn and Hie. 

4th, Let him bravely follow ine. 

. th, But they shall, they shall be free. 

6th, Let us, let us do or die ! 

energy. The only line which I dislike in the 
whole' of the song is, " Welcome to your gory 
hed." Would no! another «ord be preferable 
to welcome 7 Iu your nest I will expect to be 
informed whether you agree to what I have 



No. SLIL 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
September, 1793. 



I have rece 


ved your list, my d 


ear sir, and 


here go my 


obser 






•Down 














out the last 


half of the 


third 




first half of 


the last sta 




has: 




As down 


the b 


rn they took th 


ir way, 


And 111 


: :--: 






His chee 




rs he oft did lay 




Audio 


vewa. 


aye the tale. 




With «« 


'^V. 


when shall we 


eturn, 


Sic pi 




to renew?" 




Quoth A 


arv, 


' Love, I like th 




And a 




1 follow you. "f 




* MrTl 


omso 


i'b list of songs 


for his pub- 


lieatiou. 


•riiii 


ihroa^Se 1 ^ 


tleTbuton 






merely signifies 




tion. All 




mark, of any in 






oihe 


eader. 




+ This alterati 


on Mr Thomson 


has adopted 


(pralKaM 


intended to adopt,) 


nstead of the 



is the product 


on of Crawford: Robe 


•Laddie lie 
some time. I 


d e o"oTknow°.h. airman 






?orTt? S Myway 
ment correspon 


is: I consider the poetic 
Jent to my idea of tbe n 


nerally the mo 


t difficult part of the bu 



for object 



kings of my bosom ; humt 



Seriously, this ; 

ay w.-.y. 
What cursed f 
•GillMorice' 

ilaguey length ; 

.ud its place ca 



the solitary fir 
ay of calling fo 


nd 

rth 


<--- 


as my pen goes 


L: y 



d what Os. 



c has jet seen.* 
ddie.' The old set wi 

[■here is a third, 

old ■ Highland ] 

! than either of mem. u is 

d ' Ginglan Johnnie ;' it being 

I humorous tawdry song of that 

1 quandary, to offer up your 
onuses for inspiring direction ; 
ntime, wailing for this direc- 
ibation to Bacchus; and there 



which is objectionable in point 
mueh admired by our ban}. 



* This song, so mueh admired by our barcL, 
rill be found in the future pr.rt of the volume, 



• Auld Sir S:mon,' I must beg you ti 
out, hi. i put in it* place, • The Quaker's 

• Hlythe line I been on the bill ' is 
llie finest snugs ever I mide in nlj life . 
besiot!-. ir, c<un,>o<ed on a young lady, positively 
ibe most beautiful, lovely woman in (be world. 
A, I purpose giri 
nation, of all my 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 

•r, and in the ondauti 



vorks. 



. ;..,". i 



. I at*! 



' I have heard sung, nine- 
i with lb* chorus to the low 



ie so much aj your opinion on tbll suljecl 
r it will not sua, as I proposed, we will la 
so of the Manias together, aud then muk 
ie chorus follow. 

n father '—I inclose you Frazer' 

shall 



,..• when he plays it slow 
lie makes it ibe language of despair. 



t-:y|.; 



. FraZer 



;ive it halt the path. 

i playing, it woul 
wake an adm rable pathetic song. I do n< 

.ci.es for am merit I 
CBiapOMd [i, -n i.l ihr tune in •« which Hat 

o* midnight;" aud by tbo lceside of a fowl < 

Thou hast left rue ever, Jamie, Thou hast left 
Tuou h.i.t kft me ever, Jamie, Tbou hast lea 
Aften hut thou von'd that death, Only 



.our thou 
I'll s. 



i Ictl II 



,. for i 



■ IBM i 



u hut me forsaken, Jamie, Thou boil roe 
= forsaken, Jamie, Thou hast me 
nither Jo, While my heart 
n I'll clo.e — never mair to 









» The Scottish (the Editor 
the English) 
rvuuioa, I'U fur I shall as wen 
J it 19 for I shall it is uW ber< 



■■ \ I will;' 
iu An- 

of Hug- 

loe"aoo gl fa b-,rd 
Not* b 9 Mr T-ior.- 



it, but (o burst at 

Every country girl si 



.My sou 

U. , b.-for 

it. I hai 

English. 



e as the fiddlers call 
ce inio the pathos. 
— •' Saw ye my fa- 

l begun; and I should 



I proceed, to ki 

muy be easily turned it 



FRAGMENT. 
Tune — «' Saw ye my father." 
Where are the joys I bar met in the uk 
Where is the peuce that awaited my w 
At e'euia' the wild woods among • 






m the c< 



• r" ■ 



tv and sad sgbing care. 



Cetci 



Dtmin 



•Tallin b«me.« Urbnni mentioned an 
idea if Ins which has lung been mine; that 
(i,„ a. r i. b.„'hiy susceptible of pathos; oc- 
| IU will soon bear him, at your 
i to a song of mine in the Jlu- 
■ruin, ' \e banks and braes o' buinue Doon.' 
-One soi.g_ more and I bav- done. « Auld 

-. the old song of the 

• .u.i-ript, until I look it 
from an old inuu's siuging, is enough to 

AULD LANG SYNE, 
old auld acquaintance be forgot. 



For auld tang syne, my dear. 

For auld long syne. 
We'll tak a cup of kindness y»t. 

For auld long syne. 



BUSKS. — CORRESPONDENCE. 

See the front o' b 
See approach pro 



For auld, &e. 
paidlet i' the burn 



le your piat-stowp, 



For auld lang syne.* 

For auld, &c. 


Tyrants fall in every foe! 
Liberty's in every blow ! 
Forward', let us door d 




Now, I suppose I have tired your patience 
irlv. You must, after all is over, have a 


N.B. - I have borrowed the la 


st stanza froa 


oml er of ballads, properly so called. * Gill 


the common stall edition of Wa 




'- ■■:■.■> Mulr, M-Phersou's Fare- 






-mu'ir.'or ' We ran and 




very foe, _ 


I know the author of this charming 


And liberty returns with ev 




-• 


A couplet worthy of Homer 


. Yesterday 


yon had enough of my correspc 


ndence. The 


070^^?; A"te?h 


post goes, and niy nead ad 




hick • The Cherry and the Slae * was sung ; 
nd'fi Complaint, a book pi 


One comfort ; I suffer eo m 
in this world, for last night's j 


the world u> 



before poor Mary's days. It was then call 
« The banks o' Helicon ;' an old poem whi 
Pinkerton has brought lo light. You will s 
all this in Tytler's History of Scottish Jlus 

good many original things of this kind. 

No. XLI1I. 
MR BURN'S TO MR THOMSON. 
September, 17S3 
I am happy, my dear sir, that my cde plea 

is, though a beautiful, a hackneyed idea : 
if you please, we will let the line stand a 
is. I hava altered the song as follows : 

BANNOCKBURN. 



By oppression's woes and pains ' 
By vour sons in servile chains l 
We'will drain our dearest veins, 
But they shall be -shall be fre< 



No. XL1V. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 



ith my own respecting ll 



Scots, wha hae wi' Wallac 
Scots wham Bruce has aftei 
Welcome lo your gory bed, 



lowly, expressively, a 
am, ho h ever, clearly 
iining the cheerful lu 



ijivarlabh for 



able. Bui the sweet song for • Fee him, fa- 
ther,' which you began about the back of m:d- 
n ff hr, I ----- ■ 1 1 n .i.li-'n as an additional one. Mr 
James Balfour, the king of good f,,' 
the best singer of the lively Scott.sh ballads 
that ever existed, has charmed thousands or I 
cvmanics with • Fee him, father, ' and with ' 



One word more with regard to your heroic 

ihing to lua wild era which might tend to male 
death Diore frightful than it is. Gory, presents 
I dlMgn e .tie image to the mind ; und to leil 
them. ' Welcome to jour gory bed,' seems 

bulde..s me lo use l!ie freedom of bringing it 



No. XLV. 
MR DIRXblU UB THOMSON. 

Sept. 1J93. 



AB1NET LIUUA11Y. 

I hnve linished my song to • Saw ye my 
far her ;' and in English, as you will «. e. 
Thai there is a syllable loo much for the re- 
pression of (be air, is true; but allow me lo 
say, that the mere Jividing of a dolled crotchet 

icr: however, in that, 1 have no pretension 
to cope in judgment wilh you. Of the pieiiy 
I 6peak with coiilideucc ; but the music is u 
business where I hint my ideas with the ut- 
most diffidence. 

The old verses have merit, though Diiequal a 
and ore popular ; my advice is to set (he u.r lo 
the old words, and let mine fallow as English 



FAIR JENNY. 

Tune—* Saw ye my father. ' 



euiog the wild w 
e a-windlug ibe< 



..r,i. Your proposed .llexnoo. would, ... h J iti h d<)ub , d > c 

my opinion, make ,. lame. I am ,xc-e.t .„, I, , , ,,' „, , „,|, us ,, , n kU: „ d ,„ theocrosionl 

o.l.prd .o you fur putting me on reconsider- a ilcb of t ., llhu , i(u , ni 01 whlcM dnn bra „ m , 

lug il ; n, 1 thin*. 1 l.u%e much improved It. , , , . ,_.-:.;- i ,.,. f .1 , 1. 

..U.,1 l.-r., •"• I »,.! l.i.v.. il "''rscuve, uu 1 me inosl leiri.ic lorins 01 oea.u 






auger terrible. Such a strain of Brasi- 
lia heroic ••welcome" may be sup- 









be war- senp cf General Wolft. Hi 
• '» observation, ihat " Welcome to 
ry bed, is a discouraging address " 
it sufficiently considered. Perhaps, in- 
deed. it may be admitted, that the term gory is 

presenting a frightful but a disagreeable image 
to the mind. Km a great poet uiiering his con- 
ceptions on au iiiterestlnj — 



1 picture that is vivid, and is 

iu fulure arise. The reader will bave ob- un formij disposed 10 sicrilice the delicacies 

served Ihat Burns adopted the alterations pro- of lasie on the allur of '.he imagination. And 

posed by his friend and correspondent in for- it is the privilege of superior genius, by prc- 

mer instances with great readiness ! perhaps, ducing a new »=sociation, 10 ele>8te expression, 

indeed, on all iiidif3ere.it occasions. In the ll.ut were ongiually low, aud thus to triumph 

present instance, however, he rejected them, over the deficiencies of language. In how 

though repeatedly urged, with determiued re- many instances might this be exemplified 

solution. With eiery respect for (he jui'g- fiom the works of our immortal Sbaxspearo. 
nient of -Mr Thomson and hi. friends, we may- 
be satisfied that he did so. He who in prepar- •• Who would/ardefs bear, 

ing for an engagement attempts 10 withdraw To groan and nceat under a weary life, 

his imagination from images of death, will \\ hen he himself migbt his quitlui moke 
probably have but imperfect s 



e liberiies of a 



itile, when 



BURNS. —CORRESPONDENCE. 



: of the year. 
It I fear (o dUc 



Time cannot aid mc, ir.y griefs are immonal, 

.Nor Hope dare a cum fort bestow ; 
Come then, enauiour'd and fond of my an 

Adieu, my dear Bir ! The post goes, so 



No. SLvr. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



fiud£ 
For 


•°Vluirla 


'--';.. 


ilie 


•Ah, 


Tea-table 

Collier' 
cchaual. 


Doc 


ictl 




Deluded 


1.1- t. 


v« 




Thy h 


pe/v 


"rt 




The billo 


™°l 


^> 









The faulty line in Logan-water, I mend (huj : 

" How can your flinty hearts enjoy 
The widow's tears, the orphan's cry ?" 

The song, otherwise will pass. As to ' M«- 
Gregoira Rua-Rulh,' you will see a song of 

jours, in Ihe Museum Vol. ii. p. 181, The 



■ Raving winds around her blowi 


ig-'« 


Your Irish a 


rs ere pretty, but 


they are 




If (hey were like ll 








lj l.-.-l , 














dilionaJ dumber 


twenty-live of them 
: We could easily 


uT-Tu 


quantity of char 


ining airs; I will 




that you shall no 


twain songs; and I a 




that you would 


nd it the most salea 




whole. If you d 


not approve of 'Ho 


'/Vrt'u' 


•Deil tak the « 




g^ong; 










use,' well deserves 




1 cannot say tha 
Mnkes me as eq 


• O'er (he hills and 
al to your seleclion 


llir 'Thi! 


ofmineTandif 


use, ' is a great fav 
jou will send me yc 


'"'seYtf 


t, 1 will ta»k in 
vVhat is your op 
in sawt ? I like 


y muse to her highe 
n ion of <I baefaid 
it much. Your Jac 


t eflort. 


are pretty; ant 


there are many 


(hers of 


the same kind pi 


etty— but you have 




for theui. You 


cannot, I thiuk, ins 


rt • Fye 














What pleases 






gusts you as lud 


crous aud low. For 




iTusa'^'thf 


me, highly pleasing 




' Saw ye' my Va 












Ihos. Thus, my 


song, • Ken ye wb 




.he mill has got? 


""? 'pleases mysetf 




that I cannot try 






the air; so I * 






you will laugh 


it all this; but " 




wears his bull hi 


No. XLVII. 




MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 




October, 


1793. 


Your last letter. 


my dear Thomson, 










kinelf There 


oilection that he wa 


acoad- 


',ne 0r fjo,n°wriun 


! c T"ow! s '«" I™. 


i'ng WJ 


Turn pfeLedl 


iatyuu-«re reconcile 


d to the 






, by .he 


^DDGld Big 




dadeea 






^>, .an* 


f,'u?J[' , iw 11 "' 








hope will please yc 




English song to 






* This will be 


found ill the latter pa 


rt of this 


+ The Honour 


able A. Erskine, b 


other lo 


Lord Kelly, w 




a(h Mr 


Thomson had co 






letter which he h 


as suppressed. 











DIAMOND 


Th 


a u 


I. mi 


(alibi. 


fair. 


Thine, 


raj loi 


i, N i 




Ev 


•> [,j 


= e alo, 






Every 


oviug 


U1CJ. 




To 


hj b 


som lay my h 


art. 












T* 


Ugh 


^.r,. 


,,,lv ' r 


2M." 



ALil.NET LIBUAilY. 



Tuke away these rosy lips, 

Turn away thine eyes of love, 
Lot 1 die with pleasure. 

What is life when wanting love ? 

Night without a morning: 
Love*, the cloudless .ummer sun. 

Nature gay iil nrning . 

Your objection to the English song I 
posed for ■ John Anderson, my jo.' is cert; 
just. The following is by on old acquaint 
of mine, and I think has merit. Tin 
was never in print, which 1 think is so 
in 5 our favour. Hie more original Rood 
your collection contains, it certa.i.ly 1 



\::t 



AuJ sad despair by von. 
While her. all melauch. ly 



But how my Mat* is alter ji I 

Those happy days are o er ; 
For all thy nnrehsaling hate. 



And grateful I shall 



nightingale 



» address of Turnbull t 
n Enri..l 



• There was a lass and she was fji 
Hy the bye, Turnbull has a great many soi 
in MS. which L cao command, if you like 
manner. Possibly, as he is an old frieui 
mine, I may be prejudiced in his favour ; 
I like some of hi= pieces very much. 



THE NIGHTINGALE. 



Awake thy tender tale of love, 

And soothe a poor forsaken swain. 

For though the muses deign to aid, 
Is deaf to her forsaken twain. 



The notes oi her forsaken swam. 

When evening shades obscure lite sky. 

Begin, sweet bird, thy melody. 
And soothe a poor forsaken swain. 



!. i ■ 
By ib 

Painl 

v. bet 


•ly w.<od or winding r 
he meadows, deck the 


U ; 

, „V 

boa 

B 


BentM 

Let ib 


S? 


eie 1 will 

an,, still. 


«i 



If titiKVli the moon's pale ray. 
through unfrequented wild, i stray : 



i at night the drowsy god 
;s his ijeep-eouipeUjBC rod, 
o fancy's wakelui eyes. 



ough the fairy laud of love i 
me wander where I will, 
ra bauuU my fancy .till. 



There.! of your 



BURNS. -CORRESPONDENCE. 



No. XLVHI. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 







Air- 


' The Sutor's Doeh 




7lhXoi<. 1793. 


Wilt tho 


i be my dearie: 














Wilt tho 


let me cheer thee t 






By the tr 


easureof my soul, 


1 rell with yon. 


apprehensive that all 


That's th 


e love I bear thee < 


however, that your sil 
from that cause, and tho 


nee did not proceed 


Onh tho 


^wearTndvGW 


tht ballads cnce more. 
I have to thank you f 


En lis), son. 


Shall eve 


r be my dearie. 


(o 'Leiger 'mehoss,' w 




Lassie, s 


y thou lo'es me ; 


good, although the cole 


ring is warn.. Your 


Or if tho 




friend Mr tun, bull', 




Say na ll 


*"'" refu * e " !e '• 



the airs yet unprovided. 

No. XL1X. 

MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 

December, 1793, 
Tell me how vou like the following verses 
the tunc of 'Jo Janet.' 



XI us 



r idl, n 



ieyour 



Though I am your wed 



Nanc 

Is it in 

Mys 


y, Nan 

p„use -\ 


y. 


If 'tis 


till the 


oral; 


And 


o, good 


bye? 


"Sad 

Yet V 
Mys 


will I b« 


j°. b 


My poc 
Mj 1 

When 
Thin 


r heart 


he:, 




1 hope s 


udtr 



Nancy, Nancy, 

Then all hell will f 

My spouse Nanc; 



No. L. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
Edinburgh, "lib. Apiil, 1794. 

his child, at the time of his receiving jow 
mirable but melancholy letter, I had not au 
portumty till lately of perusing it.* How 
rry am I to find Burns saying, " Canst 



lirlisrli; 
d to the 


olher. 


rs fr 
Lil 


™ the one end o 
e the bypochond 














itified by the good opinion 



;n. he will probably 






DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



No. LL 
MB BURNS TO MB THOMSON. 



ittw, with which I am high- 
Id humbly prupuse, Mislead 
■lining Blockings, to pul n 





posiiiiely the u 


bit*', judg 










vet • superior an.. I 




t'e charmed w 






in a pe-p of 


1,- (ienl 


herd, and he 














I, 1 look on M 


Allan'! 


my f«\oun.e 


poem for nil ■ 








1 have 








I nui qui! 


vexed at Plejel'. bein 








our work. .N 






•' 1 shall be 






by nud bye. 


\ go. ana'i 


, prell, 


Composed by I.adj Elixabtll 


Heron o 




11. • The bank. 


of Cree. 



work to be at a de:id i-lcp, until the allien set 
our Modern Orpheus ut liLcrty from the bavage 
inra:dom of democratic discords ! Alas the 
day! And woe's me! That auspicious 



1 have pres 
daughter of a 


nied a copy of your so 
of mine, Mr Graham i 


fl'u 


I « role on Ih 
following add 


res* to the j oung lady. 


page, lb 


Here, wher 
In aacitaj 


the Scottish muse 


immort 


Accept the gift; though bumble 
Rich ii the tribute of the grateful 


he wl 


So may no ru 

Bui peace at: 
Or love ecu 


man f feeling in illy b 
ar thy bosom chords a 
i.ie thy gentle soul to r 


J' 


(r pily's noies in luxury of tear-, 

>aiil ih.- tale of woe re 
U bile conscious virtue all the strait 


.'seals" 



RANKS OF CREE. 
•be glen, and here the bower. 



No. LIU. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 

Edinburgh, \0lh AugvU, 17B3. 
*IV DEAR SIR, 
I owe yon on apology, for having so long do- 
layed to acknowledge the lavour of your last. 
I fear it will be a. you say. I shall have no 
more songs from Pleyel till France and we 

ou= lo be prepared with ibe poetry, and as the 
season approaches in which your muse of 



'Ti» not Maria's whispering call ; 

Til but the baimy-bre 
Mix'J wnb sons warbler's dying tall 



lb. dewy ,iaroteTei B..I. 


No. L1V. 


11,, 1, Hie, faithful mate lo cheer; 
At ouce 'tis music— and 'tis lore. 


MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
SOIA AuluiI, 1701. 


welcome dear lo love and me ! 
And let us all our vows renew. 


spun the following .tanza f.,r it ; but wheil.i-r 
my spinning will deserve lo be laid up in store 
like ibe precious thread of tbe silk-worm, or 
brushed lo the devil like ihe vile manufacture 
of tbe spder, 1 leave, my dear sir, to your 


No. LI I. 




. 


MH BCRNS TO MR THOMSON. 
July, 1793. 
j ! hers ao news jet of Pleyel? Or is your 


* A portion of this letter has been left out, 
for reasons that will easily be imagined. 

t ll were to have been wished that instead 
of ruffian feeling, tbe bard had used a less ru§» 
gcd epithet, e. g. ruder 



BURNS. -CORRESPONDENCE. 



1 £ see wbe- 

lecr, they ar'e mostly the efl'usions of thejovii 
sailor, not the waitings of his lovelorn mu 

tion-L' Sweet Annie frae the Sea-beach came. 
Now for the song. 

ON THE SEAS AND FAR AWAY. 



No. LV. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
Edinburgh, 16th Sept. 1791. 



Let me wander, let me rove, 
Still mj heart is with raj love ; 
Nightly dreams and thoughts by day 
Ave with him that's far away. 



You have anticipated mi 
mr very happy produc 

iceptation. 

The second is the lens! 
.jlarly, • Bulle's, spare 
found the bullets. It r 

of imagery! and that | 
thought would have belt 



Lion of • On the 
think it one of 
, though it cer. 
.re worthy of ell 



On the seas 
On stormy s 
Nightly dre; 



Haply in this scorching sun. 

My sailor's thundering at his gun : 

Bullets, spare my only joy ! 



At the starless midnight hour. 



MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
Sept 1794. 
shall withdraw my « On the seas and fat 
i ay' altogether , it is unequal, and unworthy 



An 


. 


jnd 


rs T 


ud the howling ai 


Lis 








doubling roar, 






:!-.e 


rocky shore. 


All 


Ic 






ep ana pray, 


l-o 






1 til 


it's far away. 




On 


the 


seas 


, &c. 


?« 


ce. 


Ihj 


oliv 


wand extend, 




, l'i 








M. 










I-'i 
Ti 


,n. 


i 


[he 


r kindly gr. el : 
en, with prosp'rou 



the world 
For that 


::a try 


l«nd 




the offsp 


ing of 


Took^er* 


-U.rti 


niTforg 


,4 " 


htm/"?, 1 


, pray 




an, ii" 


ttered a 


jo 


r adopting • Ca' 




















•f.' 






years ago I 








d with a 


■ rh; 


little fellow of a 


c, r.-.u 




a Mr CI 




who sung 


it charmingly 




d at my r 




Mr Clarke 


took 


it down 


fr< 




_-.!,,-. 


which I t 


M* 


■g, an u 
for J on 


me 


ded oihe 

my I, a. 


stroll 
on a 


few pastor 




,'f'r'ivjv. 




p the idea 


of the 




ich 1 


would p 




ve. Her 




with all it 


crud 




imperfections 


on it* 






Chorus. 






Ca« 


theve 


wes to the k 


aowes, 




Ca' 


ibe:u 


whare th 








Ca' 












Mj boa 


ie dear! 








* This 


v--- 


an order 


of the poet 


bould. 


I think, b 








peel to t! 






1, the 










Hole by i 


r I"/, 










Doctors 


differ 


The o 
trike the 


t$ 


ion to the 


sccon.1 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



Sounding Clouden's woods ami 
Then a-faulding let us gang. 



We'll gae down by Cloaden aide 
Through the hazel, spreading w 
O'er Ihe waves that sweetly glide 

Ca'the, &c. 


Yonder Cloudenssile 

Where ai moonshine ■ 

O'er the dewy bendiuj 

Fairies dru.ee sae c 

CV the, ve. 




RoduoUII 
Mv boooi 

Ca'the 


MM) co.ue 


thou fear, 
the* near, 


Fair and lovely as thou art. 
Thou host stown my very heart : 



She .says she lo'es me best of a'. 



Like hi 



rony 1. 



Her pretry ai 

Betraying fair proportion, 

Wad make a saint forget the sky, 

Uer faultless form and graceful air : 
Ilk feature— auld Nature 

Declared that she could do nae roair : 
Hers are the willing chains o' love, 

A,,d J ayt''my'chl..r's'deLesrc r haTO, BW 



J -el others love the city. 

And gaudy show at sunny noo 
Gie me the lonely valley. 

The dewy eve, and rising moc 

Her silver light the boughs an 



No. LV1L 
MR BL'RNS TO .MR THOMSON. 

September, 1794. 
Do you know a l!acV»:ard Irish -on;, called 
• Onagh's Water-fsil .'* '1 he air is charming, 
and I havr often regretted tho want of decent 

r to h.ie mediocre verses lo a fa- 
vourite air, than none at all. tin this princi- 
ple I bave all along proceeded in ths Scots 
. -,uiu, and as that publication is at 
it. la»l volume, 1 intend Ihe following song. 



The amorous thrush concludes but sang : 

n.ere, dearest Chloris, wilt thou rove 

lly wimpling burn and leafy shaw. 

Ant hear my vows o' truth and love. 

And say thou lo'es me best of a". 

Not lo compare amall thfoft wilh great, ray 
lisle in music :s like the mighty Frederick of 

decried, ami always without any hypocrisy 






- -is fay, 



tnU 



tines. Still, because I am cheaply pleased, 
s thai any reason why I should deny myself 
bai pleasure ? Many of our strathspeys, an- 

^njoyment, where you and o her judges would 
uob.il, be .bowing disgust. For Instance, I 
un ju'i now making verses for ' Rolhirmur- 

md m fact, unless I be pleased wiih the tune, 
[ never can make verses to it. Here I have 
Clarke ou my side, who is a judge that I will 
,it againsi any of you. • Hotbiemurche. ' he 
a>., '• is an air both original and leaut.ful ,»• 



Sae flaxen were her ringlets. 
Her eyebrows of a darter hue, 

Bewitching!) o'er-arching 
Twa laughing e'en " 



, and possibly you 
snew, -Let me 



60Dg, beginn T.g, " L...le v.i' the llot-whits 
,-ks ;* which wiU le found at full length af- 



BURNS CORRESPONDENCE. 



cessful or otherwise ; should she " let hiin in" 
Did you not once propose « The Sow's tail 



quite delighted with i 
lhat is no mark of its r 


the alternate way of a 



TO DR MAXWELL. 
o:>* miss jessib sta: 
Maxwell, if merit her 



No. LVIIl. 
MR THOMSON TO MB BURNS. 



^e the ' Duenna,' possess m 
: there is little in the ci 

They are chiefly vehicles 



for Drury Lane, 



inby paraby tr.be 
fere you to addrc 

lersu'aded he woul, 



No. LIX. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 



have read and sung, and fiddled, and cons 
ed, till I am half blind and wholly sti 
The few airs I have added, are inclosed. 

Peter Pindar has at length sent me al 
songs I expected from him, which are in j 



henceforlh -hall ue mine when the e-ong is go- 






i ■ h .Urary, 1 think it highly 

<■ i ll r " i -raced v,!-.:, i en verses as 


ElH£,ot 


origin of our melodies ; 
»rly.that Mr Tyller, ii> his 


proof of the hypothe 


j^of the airs, a^rdtag 




e. On John plnkerton, 


same way that rough Christians are° tempered 






>ou know, thev bid been brutes. 


Ihe score of Pindar b 


rls at ray publ. cation, on 
ing engaged to write songs 


1 am clear for having the ' Sow's tail, ' par- 






ticularly as your proposed verses to it are so ex- 




crs of Scottish writers had 




been sent a-packing 






Of you he speaks w 
you a passing hit or 




Mrs Thomson's name (Katharine) is not at 






a little some old fool 




sounds agreeable. 

Your 'Ca' the -ewes,' is a precious litlle 


His sets of the Scolt 
from the oldest col 


"however? have ."J* 'a" 


morceau. Indeed 1 am perfectly astonished 






end charmed with the endless variety of your 


are sung by every per 






in town or country, t 






uize the features of o 


r favourites. By goiue to 


dramatic writing, lhat Is a field worthy of 


the oldest collections 


of our music, it does not 


your genius, ill which it might shine forth in 






a!', its splendour. One or two successful pieces 








* Our bard had 


-efore received the same 


tune. The rage at present is for' musical 


advice, and certainly 


took it so far into con. 






find the i 



Th»s, 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 
lelodiei 



een pre 



served, we know not how long, by oral coi 
munication, before being collected and printed 
and as different persons sang the same air verj 
differentlr. according to their accurate or con. 
fused recollection of it, so even supposing the 
lirst collectors to have possessed the indu 

they could hear, (which is far from cert 



in, of ti 



Ulelodie. 



Wa 



hey were first composed. In selecting 

:h guided by the living a* by the d.-od. 

ppcared to me the most simple and beautiful, 

n-i.uing an., touip'.iiH-iil to 1.1, ,.*n .-.p-.b.lil) 
/ choosing, or speaking of tile pa.ii* I ban 

ound equally freed Iron) vulgar error, nn tho 
me baud, and afleccd grace, on the oihcr. 



No. LX. 

>1R BURNS TO MB THOMSON. 

ISWAOctoier. 1794. 
MV DRAR FlUBND, 
By this morning's post I have your lilt, and, 
iu general, 1 highly approve of it. I shall, at. 
more leisure, give you a critique on the whole. 
Clarke goes to vour town by to-day'a 111, and 
I wish yoa would call on bun and take hi. 
opinion in p-.-i.era! : you know bil taste is a 
standard. He will return bete again in a week 
or two, so, please do not mi.i asking for him. 
One th.ng 1 hope he will do, persui.de you to 
adopt iu) favour. le, * Crai^'io-burn-wood, * in 

cs of mine. The lady ou whom it was made is 
one of the finest women in Scotland: and, in 
fact, (rnlrt noui.) ii in a manner to me what 

or what you will, in the guilelem simplicity of 
Platonic love. (Now don't put any of y'our 



equal to tbe 


geniui 


of : u 


ur book -No! 


,,:_ 


•Wheneier I 




o Le 














tow 








i ' •:• 


for tbe divin 










I have a glorious re 


-■?-- 


ed by the divin 


i.'l ior 






it, of 


healing and 


f "■■': 


•rhc 


n first he piped 


. ihe 


flocks of Admetus. 


1 


t myself in a regimen 



adorability of her charm., in propor.ion you 
■re delighted with my ver.es. The I'ghtnmg 
rvf ber eye is the godhead of Parnassus, and the 
witchery of her smile, the divinity of Helicon! I 



;o business ; if yoo like my idea 

cam ben she bolbet,* the fol- 

litlle from 

SAW YE MY PHELY, 

Ouoti dicoi PtiiUia.) 
Tune — ' When she cam ben the bolbet. ' 
O saw ye my dear, my Phely ? 



O had I ne'er t -en Ih.e, my Phely ! 

r ,,, ,.;,,, my Phely ! 



Now for a few miscellaneous remarks. 'The 
Pom-' (in tbe Museum), is my composition: 
the air was taken down from Mn burns' 
voice.* It is well known in the Weit Coun- 
try, but the old words ore trash, lly the bye, 
lake a look at the tune again, and tell me if tou 
do not Ibink it is the original from which 
' Roslm Castle' is compoj.d. The second 
part, in particular, for the fint two or three 
bars, is exactly tt.e old air. « Slrt.thallan'. 
Lament' ii mine; the music is by our rip-ht- 
trusty and deservedly well-beloved, Allan 
Maslerlon. « Ponocht head, ' is not mine: I 
wou d gne ten pr.unds it were. It appeared 
first in Ihe Edinburgh Herald; and came 
to the Editor of that paper wiib the 
Newcastle post-mark ou It. f 'Whistle o'er 



• The Tosie' will be found afterwords 

ami (be other poems of which he speaks, 

ippeated in Johnson's Museum, and Mr 

T. bail inquired whether they were our baid's. 

f The reader will be curious to see this 

poem so highly praUed by Burns. Here it is i— 



To lilt, which from my drone I blew.'' 
My Eppie waked, and soon she cried, 

Get up, Guidmac, and let bim in j 
For weel ye krn the winter nighl 

Was abort when he began his din'. 



BURNS.- CORRESPONDENCE. 

later in Dum- never beat lo' see "nj oPbn I 

fries, oului the b. gaining of ttiis century. . the world as naked us Mr Will 



,ough a red-v,„d Highlaudma:,, c. 

Ire id believed 10 be the author of it. 

• Andrew and bis cutty gun. ■ The song to ' * Dun 
hich Ibis is set in Ibe Museum, is mine; r ' 
as composed on .Miss Euphem.a iUurr 

Linlrose, commonly and deservedly call 

' How lang and dreary is the night.' I t 



How lang and dreary i= '.! e nit:!.' 



Chorus. 
For oh, her lanely nights are la: g ; 



How slow 5 e move, ye heavy ho, 

The joyless day J,o* .Irear; : 

' W°lM! a i ™ y ^ myVarie. 
i'orolt, &c. 



,f my native tongue. I have Uen 

in«ray,'r,.cie, s ,t in En-hsh, tut 

«.. uo .s deplorably stupid. For instance. 

Nature's mighty law ia change ; 

'1U1T1 Xuid'tVen a mw-sllTprove ! 
Mark the winds, and mark the skies ; 



Ui,r!heu a 'a f k r cf ' s illj'ma S n, SOnS *° '" 
'ioc.ppo.e great Nature's plan ? 
We'll te constant while we can- 
Since the above, I have be.n Out in the 

met wiih the lady whom I mentioned in The 

<"-""■ ■■ ;'•'-''• ' f !:•:» odds-and-ends cf a letter. 



Aud V b', h tle e i 1 ee'l!'n' e i f> "^^ 



e.,,1, incom- j ton, s 

:<.):'l,'\ U , of; uu 



VTa're 
arliss zloorn o' rcu>! i») 
vhen in leaui;.'^ linhr. 



DIAMOND CABINET L13KARY. 
| toast is going" 



When through my very 

Her leiminf gl ri~, Oar 

•In then 1 wake 10 life, to 



r, jjs.* 



blie is '.lie otj-ct of ihe song ; tut in lie name 
I ofdecencv, 1 must beg s new chorus verse from 
| you. ' 6 to be lying beyond thee, der.rie,' i* 
' perhaps a consummation to be wished, but mil 
not do for singim in the company of ladies 
The songs in your last will do vou lasting credit, 
- ,: --u.ingly. ■ - 



[hi m', I will ramp up 'b< 
it Eoglish enough to be c 



rntleman who brought 



i by setting Ihe air «o perfectly of your opi ion with respect to Ihe 

iderj'cod. to the world naked as they were born was un- 

1 curiosity, an East eenerous. Tbey must all Le cloihed aud made 

ild swear was a Scot- decent bt our friend Clarke. 

ity of it, ns the I Ond I am anticipated by the friendli COn- 



1)0 r 



onruam, 



the ai;ld man. 

But lately «ecn in glndsome grem 

i need 'he day. 
Thro' eentte .loners the laughing flower 

In rouble pride were gvy : 
Xlul now our iny. are fled, 

•■! y, in rich array, 
Agai i shall bring them a'. 



necdotes aud 
ketcheda cha 



>re, to present >om 
wbch tou will re- 
el find hi. histori< 



Bui 



Si.- It me t 'he .naw, ot .ge; 
y trunk ,f eild, la I buss or beild. 






-ram 



Tbou golden I 

Why com 'si tbou Dot again! 

I would be obliged to vou if you 

ru.e t.-«»..-ht.f HilM-u'iColflCI 



ming design from Moggie I.au- 
urr. cm- is dancing with such spirit as lo 

to", while he is playing wilb the most exqui- 

I am much inciir.ed lo gel a small copy, anj 
in have it ei.fttavcd in the style of Biuoo'a 

P. S Pray, what do yonr anecdotes say 

■ [aggie Lauder }" w:ssheanal 
T.d of what rank? You would 



No. LXU. 
Mil EL'RNS TO ME THOMSON. 

November, 1794. 
my dear sir, for you 



--- - . ' . .nan, ni'ii'fcs io you, my uiii bit, mi yuui 

lwilllhisky.M^a,,,,!,.:,,,, .,., ad , „ .. ,.. . „ 6 a l,o„k cf tbe utmost imporl.nc, 

■ bat a. speedily a. yoo please : .h el her it...- , „,„ „„„,; b iiErfeta* 

nv.ser.ble drawing ho.cb.poicb epistle baa rot fce . { „ ,„ „ lv " ft . , ] lAei ^ in l „ „ 

«,n.pleirly tired you of my correspomlxnce. , h , form of , ,,„,,, ltJ whiLD w ;if ,„/„,, 



No. LXI. 
MR THOMSON TO ME BURN?. 
-.- 1 ,. 27IA October, Hi 



• rrangement. In.ieed, as r,ll I her* lo say eon- 

sUle or unconnected rerr.krks, anecdt.tes, scraps, 
eld soi.gs. icil wouU be iin;.cssibie lo give 

' " "id youT" 



a genuine «*>«»■■ •» lh » »° U K J°" h"* selected for • My 
a genuine ground.' On my visit 

puei can no more cxi-i without m- ru.stri-'s _, , ,-. '" . ,'. .'. . 

titan Ins meat I wi^h 1 knew the adorab e tbe * Ler d "J '° m 1 fair Chlori. (ih.l is ibe 

she, saw bright eye. sud witching .mile. P^'ie »«me of the love.y godde.s of niy i..spi- 

ba.e so ofi-n «nr«,.."ured tbe Sco tisb bard! r«'o<0 'be suggested an .dea, «b,ch I, id suy 



But when s'm charms roy sight, 
I - uty's lighi, 

When thro' my very heart 
Her beaming glories dart ; 

i.eul wake to life and joy 



j * It dots nt-t epptar v.hetrpr P 
i anecdotes, ire Banunl 



Utt.\S.— CCiiRESFOXDEXCS. 



In lordlj lighted ha' : 
Tlie shepherd slops his simple reed, 



Lovely was she by ll 
Y„„.>,f„l Chloe, c 

rthepe: . 

ful, charming Chloe. 

The fe-ither'd people yoa might st 



They hi 
-I" 11, pair 



charming Chloe. 



How do you like the 



ion which I deeply fe 


2I and highly 






Q poesy as thai oilier s 


peciesofthep 


•■ Where Love is iibe 


iy, and natur 


■iusieally speaking, th 
jf which the gamut is 


^yaldcon 




swell; v.h.l 


^as power equal to all 
ions of the human so 


h c intellects 

Jl. Still, I I 



The ilorioua 
OnTival'd Iy the radiant eves 
Of vouthful, charming Chloe. 
lovely was she, ic 

You may Ihinfc meanly of this, bat take a 
look at the bombast original, and vou will be 
surprised that I have made so much of it. 1 

the"* ofThe a°ir foTsingSg'! 

LASSIE WV THE LIXT- WHITE 
LOCKS. 



dress to your • Dainty Davie,' as follows. 
SONG. 



And v. her. t!i 
Disturbs n,j 

Enclasped to 



teof the 51 SS. this s 



And should the how 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



1 the li.it-\u. lie locks, 



ilea. You talk of (I 
ny Father;; bj heave 



Scots a.r. Mr Clarke, purity by »ij of joke, 
told biin to keep to the black keys of the harp 
Bicho.d, and preserve some kind of rhythm ; 
and lie would infallibly compose a Scot. ;>ir. 
Certain it is, that, in a Ten days, Mr Miller 
produced the rudiment, of an air, which Mr 

rationed into (be tune in qucsti in. Ritson, 
you know, lias the same story of the Wart kcj,t ; 

Mr Clarke informed me of social years ago. 
Now :o show son how difficult it is to trace 
the origin of our airs, 1 ha>e heard it repeat- 
edl) asserted that this was an Irish air; nay 
gentleman who 



toufi though no* pretty well modernised into that he bad beard it in Ireland among the old 

ihe Scottish lauguag.-, is, originally, and in I women; while, on the oilier hand, a counter 

Ihe early edition., a bungling low imitation of informed me that the first per.on who Intro- 

he Scottish manner, by thai genius, Tom duced the air into ibis country, was a baronet'i 



long by Sheridan, in the • Duenna, • to 
nli ch is out of s ght superior to h' 
It begin.. 

" When sable n"ghl each drooping p 



Theiir 


if I u 


ndersiand 


the exp 


•ssion of 






>ery 




elangua 


eof.itnpl 


city.it 


leroea 


, and 




I bate 


again go, 


over my 


■nog t 






as follow 




Not. 




1'- 


,b »ng t 


Nancy ». 


the Gre 




•&< 








'1 her. 






li 


e Caledonian 1 


d.light 


• hi » 


.. .. I 






g that : jo 


will tin 


l in .i. 






Ye lank 




o' bonn 


<• i 






, 1 think 


might fi. 


a place 




TOUI 


hu 


idred, ai 


1 --' r -: 



g.KMl tjwu, a gentleman whom possi 
know, was in coin,. a.) with our friend 
and talking of Scottish moic, M l!er e. 



lady of her acqua ntance, who look down the 

Man. How d.fficult Ihrn to a.cerla.n the 
truth respecting our poe.y and music! I, 
nnself, have lately teen a couple of ballad. 
• nng through the streets of Duufri.s. w.tl. my 
name at the head of them as the author, though 
it wa. the lirst time I had ever seen them. 

wood .' and I slmll lake car? to furni.h Jou 
with a new chorus. In fad, il.e chorus was 
not my work, but a part of ume old vrrses to 

..If in a more thai. 

ment I .ball write a 
wood' altogether. My 



linarily propiti 



I am ashamed, my dear "fellow, In make the 
requc.1 ; 'lis dunning your generosiu ; but in 

rich or poor. 1 promised Cbloris a copy of ycur 
song.. It wrings my bonesl pride to write 

so, by a tedious apology, 'lo make you lome 

snry information out of them, I will retu:n 



p. 88*9. Our bard remarks upon it, ■■ I could it i, for your pahei.ee ihat my paper i. done, 
easily throw this into an English mould ; but, for when I am in a scribLl ng humour, I know 

pastoral son", a sprinkling of the old Scot:b.b 
Ls.n inimitable effect." 



porlanl. The name 
g ■ . Instead of ll 
lines, at; in p. 201, be 



1 fain my gr 


efs v 


usiead of the 
act perfectly gr 
has, more prop 


:?:'. 


••Norwil 





h line, which seem 



No. LXIII. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
ISthKmxmber, \7H. 

Since receiving >cut la*!. I bave had anothei 
interview with Mr Clarke, and a loi g eonanl. 
tation. Ke minks the -Caledonian Unit' it 

how peculiarly well the Swoiii.h airs "sr< 
adapted for verses, in ihe form of d aIogi:e ! 
The f.rsl part of the air is generally low, arc 
suited for a man's voice, and the second pari. 



DUUNS. -CORRESPONDENCE. 

be sung, a! cc 
,ice. A sung 



in many insiar.es, cc 
pilch, but by 8 fern; 

of 'outs are written in^hU "form ': 
would think of it in some of those l 

Your verses fur < I 



Your song ior • My lodging is on 

iouie of jour Chior.ses I = ur-jc- Lave 
iir, from jour partiality for this coi- 






hink excellen 

me after • Nancy ;' t 

:ongruity to provide i 



Those you have manufactured for 'Lain 
Davie,' wilt answer charmingly. I am happ. 

any thing from your^n can be Udions. Le 



No. LX1V. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



ship with my favourite Lobby, and have prais- 
am scarcely ever off his back. For h,s;ance, 
inv walk 'before Lr;V-fl-:, I l.nisl.ed my d'uet 
\\u.:-:Jr\ i,"l Lif'rml/succ'e^deX Twin 



O Philly, happy te that day 
When rovin? through the galher'd hay 
My youthfu' heart was slov.n away, 
And by thy charms, my Philly. 



AreTka da"' ma'ir' Tel' **" 
And charming is u.y Philly. 

As on the brier the budding rose 



The , 



y Willie, 



My thoughts are a* b< 



What's a' the joys that 






Tel 


me honestly ho 


v yoi 


i:kt 


it: 


and point 


out w 


hatever you thin 
tj much pleased 


tfaul 
with 


•; IU 


ide 


l of sing- 


i:g 


r songs in aller 












on did not hir.t i 
emain, I shall 1 


avV" 


[,';"; 




e. 1 re- 


bl-t' 1 ! 


is ^e'common 


■b°r 


'■\-J 


;;;7 


Ph.,1, : 

Phillis 


Sally 


''the on'yotbe'r' 




UlL' 




, has, to 


my e 


r, a vulgaritj ab 






j 


ifilsitfor 






lesljn 


e. The 


egion of 


S:oi; 


sh "poetasters o 










Irolh 


er editor, Mr Ri 










my c 


evols, have alw 










for si 


















hand, as 


from 


aft\cted point a 


d pu 


rile 


cone 


eit on the 


la 


Teewiih youas 


otbe 


air. 


•Cro 


igie-burn 




' that a chorus 




i i'n 






'?' '' 




! ail 




,°y' 






projected song 


v;; L 


It 




howVet 




■Roj°'s n Wil o 


Alai 






a churl' 


goes 


(o my taste we 


11 en 


■.: S h 




i to t'fc. 



£S I 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 
will ' Rot 



isgoiug first, ihut : s ll-.e "."ise v. Ill) ' Re.) % Since ye.-lcrdnj's petirroiiship, I hovefroni- 

,y,if,°as well is • Rothicmuiobe. » lu ed a couple of Engl sh stanzas, by way of nn 

fact, iutbe Orst pari of Lolb tunc*, the rhyme is English song to liay't wife. "" 

i-.uch of th.ir benutv. thut ponds in sentiment with the S 



English coiret- 






all tl 

verse accordingly. Lrav- j 
ate. in both lunoi, his, I 
10 rtgularity couic' conn- 



f O Rov's wife of Ald'vr.lloch. 

"Pry { Ll ,;. t . Wl > i„ e i „,.... . 
Compart 5 Roy - s wife of Aldiralloeh. 

leness of the prefixed syllable 



D~es not lb 

furor of genius, you strike at once into the 
iii, of the air; whereas in the 
tr.t insipid method, it is like the 
of the p ns before the fiddle is bioughl into 
tune, lhia is ray taste j if 1 am wrong 1 beg 
pardon of tin I 

Hum' is so charming, 
that it would make any subject in a song go 
0>«u ; Lui p'.ih..- i.e. rli.a.ly it- native lom/ue. 
;; ....,.;•. . ... we er 

an unparalleled c mpo-uion ; and • Andro 
and bis cutty gun" is the work of a master. 





Tune— "Ba 


f«S 


wife." 




Choru, 




Can 

Wcl 
And 


t limn leave me 


It 


,, my KM, t 
;hus fjr pity ! 


Is tail 


thy plighted fo 

tliy faithful sw 


d r 


**■» 



* To this address, in the eharaci 
ken lover, a reply wot found on 
e lady, among the JUSS. of our 



I be unknown! It t.as given doubtless that referred to in p. 2.7 ol this 

me urn a bcut-uhe. Apropos to Btccba. : volume. The temptation lo give it to the pub- 

h -, 1 compose-i one '. he " '"»« stible j and if, in so doing, oflen:e 

u air 1 like much— ■ Lumps o' should be given to the fair authoress, tun 

her vertes must plead our .xcuse. 



Whene'er 1 forgather wi' 

_u.dsv.ats a 



Is'^'r>v!p!e3 1 e!b l 'lieveme" 
Wad wring my bosom sbuuldst tbou ie.-i 



My mirth sod £« 
And n.y free'dom 



's u,y Inirdsbip i. 
luble, should thai 



„; m . Tell m 



to (btuk 1 was LttrajM, 
Wnr.^£ U br,;he«r; K fo.r"Hi'rn^ «!».. That fal-ehood 1 e'er our love shou.d .unc 
Wba the di< I nei thinks o' .he road he bo, To take ibe Cow'ret tomy breast. 



thai thou yet art true, 
' my wror.gj shall be forgive! 
p roves fans, loi 



Von sua stall cta»e h 



is -' Welcome and welco 
egiin!' 
If yoo do not relUh the air, I will send it 



Acd find 

Stny, my Willie, ic. 

Could I hop- tiiou'dst ne'er deceive, 

I'd sl.ght, uor seek in other spheres 
'Ibat heaven I'd find within lb.-, bo 
Stay, my Willie, tic. 



lo be told, that, on 
i and the lady have 



BURNS. -CORRESPONDENCE. 






ie ol my family dishes : you I:-,,, 
jcipitally. that it will please a.; 
u give us a few more of this ens.. 
nd yourself in good spirit: these 



onl/'wMl the" trifling circumlTance^of 
known to one nmrher, to be the best f. 
on eanlQ, that I much suspect he has, i 

horn.' I have, at last, gotten one ; 






It is cc 



.1 lastly, an oaken reed exactly c 



beautiful bnllad, Tte so?Jkr'7ntur,°™ <l°ll 
en .-rayed for one . f m, frontispieces. The 



shepherd-boy hive, when th 
fast in the boi 









d by the lips, and plays js gone, and he could only r< 



d, is held by the hand, in playing. The All; 

ie, and 1 one back.y entige, like the common for tl 

lie. This of mine was made by a man from him ii 

e braes of Athole, and is exactly what the a nicl 

epherds wont to use in that country. Panili 

However, either it is not quite properly bored you il. 



eyeiy L-ii l n.wng comp.iment you pay 
e by ill- sij»of Burns in the S.-.oiit'. 



it. If Mr Allan chooses, 1 will send him a pipe 1 v the So.it.-h , ■.e/herds, and when" and 

Iii-fly. I doubt 






on Mr Allan and Mr Bur 



Do not, I bese. 



Nc. LXV. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 

■2Slhyoi: 1794. 
I acknowledge, my dear sir, you are not only 

r ' l 1 

lering you never entered my h. ad ; the troib 

couplets of your incomparable lyrics, for which 



No. LXVf. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



thing to forward, or a 

book ; and as I agree 

Jacobite song, in the Mus 



re. Lumps of pudding shall certai 

ire English ; the reply, on the pi 
i, bj a young and beanttful Englis 



■ tiU Jam 

™feUowibg. B 

MY NANNIE'S AWi. 

Tunc—' There'll ntyer be peace, 

Now in her green mantle blytbe Narui 



arble welcome in ilka green 
lighfless -my Nannie's awa. 



lABIMET LIBRARY. 



av'roefc thai springs frae tl.e den 

i-pherd !o warn o* ihc grey 1 

ilawu, 

hou. mallow m««, that hs 



.f lime for 11k- rxprrnioo, in tuur propcet 

jer'l it/h>-/. i li niu>t cer- 

«iiily be .!--• she galed. ' The interesting 



re of rogui.h playfuli 



ui.h play 



.No. LXVII 
MR Bl'KNS TO U3 TUOMSOI 



ear for my songs ; however, a few mat 

on, ai.d in a iiiulliplic.l. of eirort, in Ihc 
.tyle, disappear, altogether. For iheM 



gibing the 


•pnog 


for ii 










be imagery 


blka. 






great cril 


1, A . 


CM, 



writing. The following is on neither suLj-ci, 
and cunieauenlly. is no song; bul will be al- 
lowed, I think, to be two or ibrci prett. good 

FOR A' THAT AND A' Til M. 



Their tinsel show and a* 81 



The hones 


t man, though e'er saep.or, 


Is king 


o' men for a' that 


Ve see yo 


ibirkie, ca'dalord. 


Wlia et 


un, and stares, and a' that : 


TliouJ, 1, 




He'„ bl 


t a coof for a' that j 


For a' ih^ 


t and a* that. 


His rib 




Tlie man of independent mind. 


lie look 


s and laughs at a' thai. 


A prince c 


nn mnV a belied knight, 


A man, 


is, cuke, and a' that j 


But an l.o 




Guid fu 


lb, b< maunna fa' that ■ 


For a' Ilia 


I, and a'. hat. 


Their d 




The pub u 


• .elite and Pride o' worth. 


Are higher rank, than a' that. 


Then let u 


. pray that come it may, 


As com 


it will for a' that. 


Th-.- sense and worth, 


Mai bca 




For n' ilia 








T;..il man 




Shall l 


other, be for a' dun, 


I do nc 


t girt yon the foregoing song fa 




but merely by mil uf rite la burn 


lAl-.; for 


li* p ece n not really nuelry. How 


will ibefullowiag do for Craigic^uru teooil ! 


Sweet f 


«"• the etc on Craigie-burn. 


And blyihr awafcei the morrow. 






Can j 


ield me nochl bul eorrow. 


I tee the flow en and spreading tree.. 






But wl 


lie wear, wight can please. 


And 


are his buuuu twinging ? 


Fain, f 


in would I nj grief, impart. 


I 




But tec 


el lot. will break uiy bean. 


If Ic 


onceal it larger. 


If i hou 


refine to pitj me, 


1 


u >hel( love aniiher, 


When 


on ^reen lea»« fade frae :h<- -.i.t. 




id in., grave they'll witbe..» 




Farewell ■ Cod bless y>.u. 


*Crai 


ie-burn woo.1 i. .tua.ed en the ban, 


of tbe riv 










Craigie-L 




faTourite 








and that 


le conceived seteral of his beauiifu 


■yriea. 




. 





BURNS. -CORRESPONDENCE. 
No. LXYIII. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
Edinburgh, 30th Jan. 179 



I lhank yon heartily for Nam 



3 we;: 



niually surmo'uiuiiij th,s airScu.t., i„'ii, 
y delightful songs you have sent me. You 
fa bagatelle song, F^- u' l,W, small u>i 



No. LXIX. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



trial at your fax on 



O let me in this ae night, 
This ae. ae, ae night, 

a hear'al the winter wind and weei, 
= lar blinks through the driving sleet, 
pity on my weary feet, 



HER ANSWER. 

O tell na me o' winl and rain, 
Upbrait na me wi' cauld d.sjain, 

I wmna let you in, jo. 

Ck.rv. 






Thel 



No. LXX. 
MR HURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
EixlefechaK, 7 \ February, 1795, 

cannot have any idea of the predicam 
hicb I write to you. In the course of 

as supervisor (in which c ipaeily II, 









ong. I am highly delighted with it ; aid 



No. LXX I. 
Mil THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
25!h February, 1795 



Tl.eanelles 
U nougat t 



ong. Her onswer is excellen 
ou,e liuic- lakes away the iudelici 



DIAMOND CABINET LIDUARV. 

is never muddy, ' Take aught else of m 

dress in the above But my Cliloria sp; 



dais at Icclrfechan, snd be obliged to begi 
"end fur ^OuTy^ZTtVyViowu. ^ 



No LXXH. 
MB BURNS TO MB THOMSON. 



•;W- « Whow'll bur.nie A.-nielie.' 

Or, • Loch-Errcch Side. • 

O slay, sweet-wurbllng woodlark, slay, 
Nor quit tor me I lie UeiliMing spray, 
A h.lple.s lover courts tby lay, 
Thj koothirg fuud compulsing. 

Again, as-tin that lender pari. 
Tlial 1 may culch Illy mailing art : 
) r surely Ibal wad touch her heart, 

am »i' di.diiu.ng. 

Stay. wa. ihy Utile inn' 



I _ How do you lit e ili,- r..regoing ? The Irish 
mi? I oTuiine, and as, except ihe silfy HufY in the 
e written for it as follow. 
SONG. 
-' Humours of Glen.' 
Their groves o' sweet myrtle let foreign ]ji,d» 
ht-beaming summers exalt the 
'rue yon lone glen o' gteen 
Wi' the buru stealing under the lang yellow 
Far denrer to me are yon humble brum 
Whfre the blue bell and gowan lurk lowly 
Por ib're. lightly tripping auang the wild 
. aft winders my Jean. 



per,,,,. 



!'.. > 



i^rV. 



I gay s 



Wbai u,e ifaaj t The haunt o' the tyrant 
The slave's »;,icy forests, and gold-bubbling 



' ipaarH—l grirf, and dark Ue»p,ir: 

;t me know your very lir.l leisure how y< 
,h,. song. 

on ciiLonis being ll.L. 



Sjvt Lo>..'. willing fellers, thee 

SONG. 
Tune—- Laddie, lie near a 
us na her bonny blue e'e i-as „ 



Lonr, Urns >he , 






1= «n lue couch of anguish ? 
Long, &e. 

Eiery hope is fled, 

Ever, le.ir ,s terror; 
Slumber e'en 1 dread, 

... , bor.cr. 



BURNS CORRESPONDENCE 



No. Lxxin. 

MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. | 

Yob must not think, mj good sir, that 1 have | 
any intention to enhance the value of my gift, \ 



worthy a 



31 

world's iiaperi 



le chains the will- 



's Saturday Nig] 
: of the happiest 



ould deny 
ions of : And feel tluough eveiy " vein Love 



liz. This 






t Caledonia,' i 



ion of your applause, it will raise your hum- 
servant's phrenzy to any height you wanN 





N 


. LXXi 


V. 


MR BURNS 


TO MR 


THOMSON. 


OTEKEBB 




AK OLE 


ENGLISH SO 


Air— 


Joh 


n Anders 


on my jo.' 


How erne 
Who ri 


;he! 


the pare 

only pri 


'! 



No. LXXV. 
Mi? BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
Mai/, 1794. 
^n thousand thanks, for your elegant presents 
ough I am ashamed of the value of :t, tein? 
stowed on a man who has not by any 
;ans merited such an instance of kindness. 
une =!,.,.,,„ u :o l,vo or three judges of .he 

. i ' r .' r } 'i ""i" 1 on. My 

iz is "saekenspeckle," .hat the very join- 
's apprentice whom Mrs Burns empiojed lo 
break up the parcel (I was out of town that 
J — * knew it at once. My most grateful cow- 



, whom, from that 



N 


- 6 L." 


llle rut 


.ibos'f. 
ih hi 3 






SONG. 




Tm 


e_'De 




Mark vo 
Rju.id 

"Won 


aii 


orapof 

.ea.lhj, 

ir.i l-r.i 




iliegay 


^ 


v 'glare 


plea- 



I Give the inclosed epigram to my much- 
I valued friend Cunningham, and Sell him ihat 
on Wednesday 1 go lo vi-it a friend ..f his lo 
-..horn h.sirieudi.- part a.iiy in speaking of me. 



No. LXXYL 

MR THOMSON TO MR BUi'.NS. 



BI.NET UllRAHY. 

. thief saesaukle is my Jean. 

lui gleg as ii°hi are lovers' 0Y11, 



Goienily esteem und . csju-c you f*- ihe libi r;.l 
nnd kind inami-r in whieh j>ju have entered 
into the spirit of niv undertaking, which could 
not hive beer. pe.tVe.ed >,,lliout >• u : 9o 1 
bag -'in ».,jldnoi .nuke a fool of me again, by 
speaking of obligation. 



Lapp, to find JO 
lling. L-ng . 



No. LXXY1L 

MR UL'KNS TO MR THOMSON. 

1 • \%'lii.i!i- and I'll come 10 ye, my lad 
iteration of thai hoe 1. liresjomo to my e.i: 
egoes what I think is an improvement. 

his.lc and I'll cotne to ye, my lad ( 
I.Utlcand I'll come to ye, ray lad; 
' Utn.r Hid looker, and a .boold gl 

ture »i* ye, my lud. 

ma at whose ihriae, I. tl 



■fllj Jean, 
In fact. . 



■ 



, ifl, ■ 



wboui 



.. lightning. . Far On., h, 
laonlbeame 

ebcr command, .f ).u Jin 

SONG. 
Owrw. 



.villi. 



And ayeil charms mv verysanl. 
The kind love I bat', in her eV 



no, &c. 
It may escape Ilie courtly ») 
But weel Ihe vynichine: love 



rk«. 



Do you kiioa lhai you have roused Ihe tor- 
pidily ol C.urke nt last? He baa requeued 

please 10 present to my valued Mend Cunning- 

I inclose the abeet open, bulb for your >n- 
peclion, and that you may copy the none:, ' 

ili-cher I 0111 right ; bul ihat song plea. - — 



.ewli r 



e Clarke. 
n Ihe fogs of indulgence, if yon 

id poor Erskine's English lines may follow. 
I inclose you Tor a' that and a' thai.' 

1. composed by a lady. 

To MR CUNNINGHAM. 

SCOTTISH SONG. 

Now spring basclad the gro«s in green, 
And strew 'd the lea wi' (lowers; 



'1 he In 


Ika thing in nature jo n 


Tnei 


r sorrows lo forego, 


Dwhj 

1 be 


sri try 


all alone are mine 
steps of woe! 


The t 

And w 
Den 

M . 1 i 


• ■ Le, 


bin yon wimpling I 
ft. a silver darl, 
eath ibe shady thorn 
angler's art; 
ance that careless st 


1 hn 
1 m Is 


™*l 


on trout was 1 ; 
unrelenting beam. 



The little floweret's peaceful lot, 

lu yonder cliff' that erows. 
V.'hich. save Ihe linnet's flight, I wot. 



The waken'd lav'rock warblic 
And cl mbs the early sky, 

Winnowingbly.be her dewy , 
In morning's rosy ey. 



BtTSXS.- COUttESPONDENCE. 



O bad my fate been Gree i 
Or Alric's burning zone 

Wi' man and nature leag. 
So Peggy ne'er I'd kuu 

The wrecliwhasedouniis 
That tongue hie woes c, 

Wi'.hin »k>ebto-m,,a'. 



Von rosebuds in the morning dew 



No. LXXV1II. 

MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
Edinburgh, 3d Aug. 1795. 



thy of alt acceptation. 

.My eyes have just been gladdened, and my 

is yours! I? is superfluous to tell you that 
I am delighted Willi all ihe three sougs. as 
well „s your elegant and tender verses to Chlo- 

' ea ",e, • Thy'deai.y^' 



Wi* Chlorisinmy arms, be wine ; ' 

Its joys and griefs alike resign. 

Written on the blank leaf of a copy of the 
last edition of my poems presented to the lady, 
whom, in =o many ho ■o.ious reveries of pas-ion, 
but with the most ardent sentiments of real 
fnenJ,hip, I have so often sung under the uame 






The comfort* of Ike mind 2 
rhine is the self approving glow, 






my lad. ' I u 
do not think the 
well as the fori 

Je°a",y, whoTvV 






happy to see Mr Clarke pro 



'. s.— The lady's ' For a' tl: 



No. LXXIX. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



* The Editor, who has heard the heroine of 
is song sing it herself in the very spirit of 



That bl 









arms of iL 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 
iotrj Bkj, C^C5S ye bow the ;ad I cculd bear h.r, couti 

Cues* ve tow the jad I cculd bear her. 



O wert, 
Cold, oller'd friendship's 
Let me Dot break ihj fail! 

O were, &c 
But dieary though the moi 



No, 1 XXX. 
MR BURNS TO MB HIOMSON. 
' IAU. 
Tunc - • Tbe Loth!:. . 



The deuce gae wi m, lo Wktl me, bi 

He -pak o' the dartf in mj botmie black t' 
Atj io« 'd for mj lo»e he was dying : 

1 Hid be might die v. hot he liked for Jeai 
rgi'e ae for l. ing. forl.ii.i 
The Loru forgi'e me for 1; ing : 



liul thought I might ha« 

But thought I m"gU ha 

But what wad you think! i 

The de il uk his laste to gae i 
He up the lang loan to my black 






I gaed 



P .'.-arnock. 



Bat on re my left sboutlier I gse h ; m 

Lest nceto.-« might say I wag saui 

■ caper 'd as he'd been in 



But h-arms ! how he fell 
But herein,! how befell a i 



FRAGMENT. 
UK—' The Caledonian Hunt 
Why. wbj tell (by lover. 






* In the original MS. this line runs, ' He 
op the Gateslsck to my black c 

Mr Thomson objected (o this «crd, as wrll as 
t j the word ' Dalgarncck in the ceil vent Mr 
Burns replies as follows ; 

• Gaieslack is tbe oame of a particular place, 
a kind of passage up airan? tbe Lauther hills. 

i- ali-i the na:2« of a romantic »p.-.t near ihe 
N.lh, whe.-e are still a ruined church and a 
burial -ground.' However, lei the first line 

i. is alwa.s a p:iy to throw oot any thing 
Iha: ;i>es localitj to our peel's reraee. 



B",»s I 



O whT, while fancv, raptured slumbers 
Cblcri., Cblor.s all the theme. 

V.'hr wb, wouldsl Ihou. cruel. 
Wake thj lorer from bis dream. 



I am at present quite occupied wilb the 
rhanning sensations of ihe toothache, so hare. 



No. LXXXL 

MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 

3dJui,e, 1793, 



i -..ur English rrrsesto • Lei me in trrs M 
light,' are lender and beautiful; and your 
altad to the • Lothian Lassie' is a master piece 
or its humour and natrrfe. The fr 

. ian hum' is qui'e ,uited to the 
■■ igir.il measure of the air, and, as it plagues 

. ->u so, the fraimrri! most conlent it. I would 

rather, as I said before, bare had Bacchanalias. 

words, had i: so pleased the poet ; but nercrths . 

less for wbai we hare received. Lord make ur 



No. LXXXII. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 



O Robby Barns, are you sleeping jet 



HNS. -CORRESPONDENCE. 303 

And e'en when this beauty your bosom has 

bless'd, 
The brightest o' beauty may cloy, wLen pos- 

But the sweet yellow darlings wi' Geordie irn- 

The Ianger ye mre (hem— the mair they're ca- 
ress 'd. 

Then, hey, &c. 



:d our own good subjects. 



No. LXXXIII. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
February, 1796. 
Many thanks, my dear sir, for your hand 

some, elegant present, to Mrs B — . an 

for my remaining volume of P. Pindar. - 
andafirstfavou. 



2 L>t>. 






to lend every assistance in my power. Tl 
Irish airs 1 shall cheerfully uudertake the ta 
of ending verses for. 

kind of rhapsody to another Hibernian melod 



HEY FOR A LASS WI' A TOCHER. 

Tune— ' Balinamoaa Ora. ' 

ir'witchcraft o' beauty's 

bit beauty you grasp in y. 

■e lass that has acres o' c 

O, gie me the lass wi' the weel-s'ocket farms. 

Chorus. 

Then hey for a lass wi ' a tocher, then hey for 

Your beauty's a flower, in the morning that 

ind wi.hers'the Faster, the faster it grows ; 
iiul the rapturous chum o' the bonuie green 

~ i -- j 



If this 






., y<u h 



ity to have a Greek appellation to a Scottish pas- 
toral ballad.— Of this and some things else, 

locks" is jusl : they cannot enter into an ele- 
gant description of beauty. —Of this also again. 

No, LXXXIV. 

MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 

Your " Hey for a lass wi' a tocher' ' is a 

is something new Indeed. It is the lust time 
I have seen you debasing [he god of soft de- 
sire into an amateur of acres and guineas. 

I am happy to find you approve of my pro- 
posed octavo edition. Allan has designed and 
etched about twenty plates, and I am to have 
my choice of them for that work. Indepen- 
dently of the Hoganhian humour with v-.u.cu 
they abound, they exhibit the character and 
costume of the Scottish peasantry with inimita- 

they v.i.i.f^r exceed the a^uatima plates he did 

etching, he sees clearly what he is doing ; bat 
not so with the aquatiuta, which he could not 
manage to his mind. 
The Dutch boors of Ostade ar 



Cgar 






e bcutii 



No. LXXXV. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 
April, 1 



-wii Lc 



pain ! Rheumatism, 



* Our poet never-explained w 
•cnld have substituted for Chi 
I Mr Thomson. ' 



*.yi DIAMOND CABINET LlflRAUY. 

•• *ny wbmefotB h« an all-i. : Julffe.it heaven I Although thou maun neter be mine. 

Light lo the cmforlless and wretched given V Although even hope is dmied ! 

Th ; 6 will be delivered lo you bt a Mrs Than aught in the world beside-Jes 

Hvslop, landlady .f ihe G'obe tavern here, , Here's a health, &c. 
which for these many tears has been my howf. I 

and where our friend Claike and I had many I mourn through the gay, gaudy day, 
a merry sque.ze. I am highly delignled with As, hopeless, I muse "on thy charms 
Mr Allan's etching*. • Wi*M and married Bui welcome the dream o' sweet slunib 
and a' 'is admirable! The grouping ii beyond For then I am lock'd 
oil pr.vise. The expression of the ligure., con- , Here's a health, , 
formable 10 llic story in (be ballad, is absolute- 
ly faultless perfection. I next ndmire • Turn- I guess by the dear angi 
imspike.' Winn I like least is, -Jenny said I guess by the lnve-ro 
to Jackie. 1 Besides the female being in her Bui why urire the lende 
sppearance .... if jou lake her stoop- '<Jnii.it fortune's Ml 

talier'tban'liVr Iotct/ Poor CU-ehorn 1 I sin- ' 



by aims— Jessie I 



el:-gruunu\-d hope of 
(his world. A, for me 
, subject I 



No. 1AXXV 
MB THOMSON TO MR BURN* 

4(A May, J 796. 



No. LXXXVIII. 
MB BUBNS TO MR THOMSON. 



ung fellow of 
a day or two 
. u BOOOM, U 
ve a spore h. 
1 place your kindness to 



id by a Mr Letters, n 
■mou merit As he will 



I need not (ell you, my t** *'**£%£ e^ll^e' «ken '.""anty'S "i.™ i£ 'SI. 

l.jmpalhla. in your •>**•■£• ^ItS.T.' J"« h^MB™S"lital^?i^^"«"^ 

I beseech you. g.«e,our.elf up -odespomle^c. j .be.oruj.oi.l., orcopies.f lm.dr.iihe, 

nor spe.k .he language of dr.pi.r. th. «6»ur ^ |h< aulljor - of tv , Jgmim ,,,„,, 

''Trusting 'hat^our n«l will bring agr.e,! 1. J^Sl "» <=»»P ! »'"' " » 1) '"6 B «« I • 



pTs.— Mrs Hjsli 



To. LXXXYIL 
MR BUBNS TO MR THOMSON. 



e know how Clegborn it 

T his should have been delivered to Ji 
noutb ago. I am still very poorly, bill el 
ike much to bear from you. 



No. LXXX.IX. 
MR BURNS TO MR THOMSON. 



ee mentioned lo <ou an 
, inured. ■ Here's a bea 
Bl I fcgel if 
„f i(." 1 have just been 
, wsr. : and I beg leaee 


tou took en 
irying lo 

re. l I have 

mile when 
ear Jesi- 


Dale 
fond 


After all my It/asied independence, curs, d neces- 
► it compel, me io implore jou Tor live pounds. 
A cruel of a haberdasher, la 

bead that 1 am dying, has commenced a pro- 


Hare's. hesJlh 10 one I 

He.e'sahe-.l.htoaue 
Tbouart »»«... the 

A. d s-lt as Ihe paurlii g 


se In the letter (o Mr Thomson, ihe Ibrd 
first stanzas only are given, and Mr 1 l.om o 

■none his MSS. was, however, found li>« 

song, Ihe la=l 1'. M,.J offspring of his mils-. 

jD is neeol sst.. say, that this revisal Bums 
did not live lo nirforin. 



tracted. I 
upon retort 
engage to ft 



if post. Forgivi 



BURNS CORRESPONDENCE. 

me into jail. Do, 
it sam, and that by 

! made me half dis- 
is gratuitously ; foi 



tbey are on the other side. Forgiw, forgive 



SONG. 

_• Rorbiem 
id on Devoi 



Full well thcu know'.t I iove thee 
Couldst thou to malice icud an ear 
O did not, love, exclaim ' Forbea] 



Then come thou fairest of the fair. 

And by that beauteous self 1 sv,ear, 
No love but thine my heart shall know. 

No. XC. 
MR THOMSON TO MR BURNS. 
HUi My, 179(1. 
Ever since I received your melancholy leller 



r.yy friend might be found 



* These ve 






APPENDI X. 



It may gratify curiosity to know some particulars of (be history of the preceding Poems, or. 
•unci is mad* from a letter of Gilbert Uurns, the brother of our Poet, and his friend and cori- 



tloagid. 2J April, Ki»8. 
cr of the 1 lib of March I received 



m I can 



curat.- .u res eel t.i tin- .1 iles of l!..- ; mis. but 

1.011c of thrill, excepi ■ Winter, a Dirg ■■• (which 
v,ns a juvenile production,) the • Death and 
Hiin; woids of poor Hailie, 1 and some of the 
songs, were composed before th 

partly by way of frolic, bought u ewe and two 

.1 n neighbour, and she was tethered 

in a field adjoining the house at Lochlie. Ha 

and I were going out with our teams, a id our the family lire (and I could yet point out the 
two younger brothers to drive fur us, at mid- p.irticu'.ir s.iot I lb.it the author Ural repeated 
.1. „ »h.?. 11. ...h \vi:.,.„ „ ^,iri,„.«.!.K,t;„^ 1... . .v.i..... , n ,h. II.. 1 • •{", ;„.,. 



bear being printed, and that It would be well 
received by people of taste; that I thought it 

Ion Kainsay "e epistle*, and that the merit of 
these, and much otl.cr Scottish poetry, seemed 
to consist principally in ihe knack of the ejr.- 






1, .,1 1! 



ilj seemed affected, but appear- 

beside? '"h" '.' S'h ***; 

store for him when he should go a-begging. 
Robert seemed very well pleased with my cri- 



obert seemed very well pleased with my 

'..Id I .si. ', 



as this plan afforded no oppor- 
tunity of knowing how it would take, the idea 
was dropped. 

It was, I think, in the winter following, as 
going together w ' 



wkward boy, clad in plaiding, 



Us idea of such .in address was suggested 10 him, 

formation th.il the e.v- hnd entangled herself .11 en u, accounts and representations we have, 

ert was much tickled w.'tii llugiitc's appear- J age. • Death and Dr Hornbook. ' though not 

wo. s-l to nglns, ..:.•. when we returned from duced early in the year 1785. The school- 

her 'death and dying words' pielty u.uch in 1, subsistance allowed to 'that useful class of 
Ule way they now stand. men. set up a shop of grocery goods. Having 

Among the earliest of his poems was the accidentally fallen in with some medical books. 
•Epistle to Davie.' ttobert often composed 1 and become meet hobby-borsically attached to 
witoout any regular plan. When any thing the study of medicine, be had added the sale of 

■way to .he Impulse, and embody the thought in overlooking his own incapacity, he had adver- 
rhjuie. If be h.i on two or three stanzas to lised, that Advice would be given in common 

troductory, connecting, and continuing Stan- a mason meetniz, in Ti.rb dton, when the 

be and I were weeding m the garden (kail- damn and physic at the place where be de- 
yard), that he repealed 10 me the principal part scriLes his meeting with Death, one of those 
of this epistle. 1 believe the tirst idea of Hob- floating ideas of apparition, he mentions in his 
«rt's becoming an author was started on this leiier to Dr Moore, crossed his mind: this set 
occasion. I was much pleased with the epis- 1 him to work for the rest of the way home, 
lie, and said to him I was of opinion it would , These citcumstances be related when he re- 



peated the verses to me next afternoon, a 
was holding the plough, and he was letting 
w.iter off the field beside me. The « £pi 
to John I,apraik' was produced exactly on 

(p. 2 14).' I believe he has omitted the n 
rocking in the glossary. It is a term deri 



or fifteen jonng people 
Lapraik's song, begin- 
thy bosom lean," wa; 



duced for the purpose of bringing forwar 



BURNS. - APPEN DIX. 

EaVnourgh/ll 



indebted for the " Cc 
The hint of the plan 
were taken from Ferg 
When Robert had tu 



d frequently to wt,ik toieih'.r when I 
ug part of the eooimomtj), and erjo 



enlightened mind 
Kcscoe. who has t 
mony to thiB poei 



;on, in his ' Hallow Fair at 
eve, likewise furnished e hint 
oof the • Holy Fair.' The 



l, that • The Lan 



The Tale of Twa Dogs 



my father's death. Roberl 



:r <-r.d Luat'h 
title of ■ Sta. 



now in Glasgow, having given up the parish 
in favour of his son. Ur Laivrie has several 
daughters; one of them played; .lie father 






elighiful family 



,e-l, v.Li 
Mcl re. i 

Eul:..U-. 



m, and the stanzas, p. 197, were 
hat Pr Blacklock's letter was addres- 
ser, .ons as e reason o 
my father feued 1 



--- 



. Myfatt 



of tl 

with tv 
tn applic: 



;-: ■.:-.-. 



a raised 


;, -uLscriiitior. a = u:u f,-,r inclosing 




cemetery with a wall : hence he 








lor t r 


ve for th 






* »s, T.'.iiig in E~l, island, when 


plain Gr 


ose, oil his : peregrUtiona ihr ugtl 


otlau.J, , 


a*ed some time at Carse-house io 


e ne-;iiOC 


urhood, with Captain R.Urt lid- 




riduel, a particular friend of my 




The Antiquarian and the Poet 




o pack ana thick thegiiher. " Ra- 




ted of Captain Grose, when he 






"crawi":.g 


of Allowav-Kirk, as it was the 


' - 


of his father, where he himself 


d a sort o 





id added, by way of encouragement, that 
as the scene of many a good story of witcii 
d apparitions, of which he knew the Caplr 
is very fond. Ths Captain agreed to tile i 



DIAMOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



quest, provided the 


poet won 


d 




along w 




Sbanter" was pro 


ucedon . 




was first published 


in"Gros 




Scotland." 






The poem is fou 


dedon a 




The leading circ 
home very lale fro 


^Ay!Jn 


°a 


his seeing a light 




a J 


the curiosity to loo 






witches, with the c 






to them, the sea 




S 


witches, wh'ohm 


de him so 


fa 


fbe°mela7choly e ca 




f 



be at ^interesting*) even^ome of those I 

Ring enough, but you will only make use of 

The following poems in the first Edinburgh 

rnarr.ock. ' Death and Dr Hornbook ;'• The 
Brigs of Ayr;' -The Calf;' (the poet had 
been wiih Mr Gavin Hamilton in the morning, 
whosaid jocu - I was going 



•The gloomy Night;* • No Church- 
iu have never seen the first edition, il 



PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION 

OF BUR.NS'S POEMS PUBLISHED AT 

KILMARNOCK. 

•• The following Trifles are not the produc- 
tion of the poet, who, with all the advantages 

a rural Tbenfp, wiia P an eje^to" be 

Virgil. To the author of this, these and other 



uage. Thongh a rhymer from his eatlis 

ippiouse, perhaps the partiality, of friend 

think any thing of his worth showing 
none of the following works were compos 



hat even he. 


n obscure, nt.n.eless° Eard, 


as" "an 3 imper'in 


the thenght of being branded 
ent blockhead, obtruding his 






make a shift to 


jingle a few doggerel Scotch 


hymes together 


looking upon himself as a 


met of no small 




"Itisanobse 




Shenstone, whos 




»ttr language, ou 










r raised one to fan;e ! ' If any 


r lie catches at 




elis him once fo 


.all, that be certainly looks 


upon himself as 


jossessed of some poetic abili- 



:i. He begs his readers, particularly the Icarn- 



sense, let htm he done by as he would in that 
case do by others— Let him be condemned, 



I am, dear Sir, 



T>R C'UIiRIE, Liv 






ssra 



Id solitude of his study, 



is reviewed and retouched after it has faded un 

exerted. The original manuscripts of many 
of his poems are preserved, and they differ in 
nothing material from the last printed edition. 

Prayer', after the Stanza, p. 93, beginning, 

Erskine, a spuokie Noreland Billie, 
there appears, in his book of manuscripts, the 



t Hugh, my watchman st 



I ken if that your sword w 


ere wanted 


Ye 




But when there's ought to 




Ye 


re at a stand. 


• Sodger Hugh' is evide 


itly the present Earl 


of Egliuton, then Colo 




Coilsneld, and represents 


; in Parliament the 


county of Ayr. Why th 




printing, does not oppea 


r. The noble Ear'i 






familiar though it be, by s 


bard whose genius 




e he lamented. 


2. In • The Address to t 


leDeil,' the seventh 


stanza, in page 176, ran 


riginally thus i 



APPENDIX. 










AndEv 

Adanc 




like 


"In^blnS! 

y0U V\i'g a uilil« 


■ " 


3. I 


The 


Elf 


3, o 


a pcor Maili 


„the 


stanza 


inpo 


ge J 




beginning, 






She 


was 


nae 


get o' moorlana ti 



It were a pity that the Fairlie lambs shou!d lose 
the honour once intended them. 

4. But the ch;d wiu.iti as are found in the 

lion in two volumes small 

of thest 

printed 

poem tl 

eifort on the subject, received cousider.iL 

terations in printing. 

Instead of the sis lines beginning, 

Say man's true genius estimate, 

in manuscript the following are inserted, 

Stay ; the criterion of their fate 

rt thou high or low ? 



Did thy fort 
Wert th 
Prince o 

5. The • Epist 



h thing. 



> R. G. of F. Esq. ' that 
Fintry, Esq. also under- 
went considerable a. terations, as may be collect- 
ed from the volume of Correspondence, 'ibis 
style of poetry was new to our poet, and 



ouglil 



uble than his 



id of the dre --"■' 
und on the • 

I in the first i 



^ Ij table, •"! 

ion of the p 



and are as follow : 

Three lawyers' tongues tura'd in 



n the Correspondence. 



DIAiUOND CABINET LIBRARY. 



od collection, by the udv.ce of Mr Fraser 



'bile cold-eyed Sprin?, a rirglD co 
Unfolds her vcrdam mnntle sweei 

A carpel for her youthful leet : 






By the alteration in the 
be questioned whether t 

introduce the shades of Dryburgb, 
of the EarUf Bucban, - 



whose request these 



tions might be e 
r offered will satis 
hing ol any imp 



G L S S A R Y . 



\ha cA and gh have always (he guttural sound. The sound of tha English diphthong oo, is eora- 
monly spelled ou. The French u, h sound which often occurs iu the Scottish langucge, is 

followed by e mute after a single consonant, sounds generally like the broad'Engiiah a in v?n'l. 
The Scottish diphthong <s, always, aud ea, very often, sound take the French, e masculine- 
The Seottiob. diphthong ey, sounds like the Latin ei. 



AfF, off; Aff Ioof, di ' 
Afore, before. 
Aft, ofr. 

Agley, off ihe right line; wring. 
Aiblms, perhaps. 



refit, barefooted, 
ten, a crew, a gang. 



ving a White stripe di 



Beet, to add fuel lo 
B=ld, bald. 
Belyve, by and Of. 



sr parlour ; a spen. 



Aughi, possession; as, In a my aught, in all 

my possession. 
Aula lang syne, olden lime, days of oth 



lankit, grace after meat. 

er, a kind of woodeu dish ; a short n 

'to w biud , '° r - ie "' ,:fui - 

;in, building; a house. 
'bull.' 



BU HNS. -GLOSSARY, 



iitLer.-wood-sbuw, a sui: 

ellow. 

i of palridgea, &c. when l!: 



lie, a shrivelled dwarl 







ale, bashful, sheepish. 




tiadd, a Hat piece of any think ; to 


:»r- 






Jleerit, bleared, fore with rb. urn. 




lJleert and blin\ bleared and bl.ud. 




.icelin-, blazing. 




Helium, in ,., - m'.king fellow. 




tlrlher, to talk id) ; DM 




'- ■ :■ • 




while ; a milling look , 


lo look 














■•■.-,■ 








01 gown, wilb a badg.. 





1 Brilber, a brother. 

I Brock, a badger. 
! Brogue, a hum ; s 



111 ugh, a burgh. 
Rruilzie, a broil, 

Brust, >~ < • •' 

Bucban 



• untie, a uirallor, a flupid per; on. 

ii) pe, a riired, a large piece. 

ock, to roniil, to gu.li lulcruiitlentlj 



small jjnnock, or loaf ni 



Bore, I hole in The wall. 
BotcL, an angrj tumour. 

r.uknnr. 
Bow-kail, cabbage. 

, crooked, 
Braiktus, fern. 

rUj ; a precipice; the 



Braukc, a k.ny cf wooden cuib for bor.es. 

BrBtS, course clothe*, rags. &c 

Hruw.'uue, bam.* uj'e. 

Brawls or *raw)ie, Ten well; Cnel 

heartily. 
BraxJe, a morbid sheep. 
Breast e, diminutive. o< 
Ereaiin, diu spring up or lor .. era, . 



.11- rocks of Buchan. 
l.ucUkin, an iuhabiunl of Y.rgiuin. 
Bugl.t, u pen, 
Bugbl.ii-C.uie. the time of colltctlng tl 



tuirdl..,i 



'to be milked. 

'U."!ui,'.,! 






Bum- clock : 

summer evenings. 
Bumming, humming as bet 

Huouuler, a blunderer. 

Burdies, diuiinolit; ol bird: 
Lure, did beur. 






, to call, to n 
— . or CaV, call 
Cadger, a earner. 



ild ; 



u, a loose l.-sp of slonea- 

Calf. ward, a mia:i euclotuie ! 

ir'tMtth-umui; refresh 

eor Car.nle, gentle, mild 
lilie, ceitero isli ; geutli. 

iraip, a charm, a spell. 

" *rin, cheerfully. 



a wooden drin 



Jrisket, the brea=t, the bosom. 



BL AN S.- GLOSSARY. 



Craft, or croft, a field near a house (in old 
J & h^b»„dry^ . _ 



ly; courageously, 
sition of oat-meal and b 



th crooked horns, 
tie i bpoken of bread, 
bead with a cudgel. 

.if with a crooked head. 



»e hair fall. 






Colliesuangie, quarrelling, an aproar. 

-■. •' e'cad. 
Coof, a blockhead, ninny, 
Co kit, appeared aud disappeared by fits. 
Coost, did cast. 



Curpin, 



DADDIE, a father. 

'• "u, merriment; foolishness 
, merry, giddy ; foolish. 



Dainty, pie 
Daise or Dt 
Dales, plai. 






frif-iu 


1.' r. 


-ioUVi 
tuable 


Cuwpit, 


rp g 




Crr.Lblt, 


suugly. 
crabbed, 


fretful. 



i clean corn from chaff. 



3U BURNS. —GLOSSARY. 


Digbt, cleaned from chaff. 


F 


Dink, neat, tidy, trim. 




FA', fall; lot: to fell. 




Fa's, does fall; water-foils. 


DM, a sliphi tremulous stroke or pain. 


Faddom't, fathomed. 




Fae, a foe. 


Polled, stonid, hebetated. 


Faem, foam. 




Faiket, bated. 




Fairin, a fairing ; a present. 


Del, »orrow; to ting dool, to lament, to 






Fand, did b„d. 


Dooe, doves. 


Farl, a cake of oaten bread, ice. 


Borty, saucy, nice. 


Fash, trouble, care ; to trouble, to care f 


Dou-e or Uou.e, sober, wiee, prudent. 


Fasht, troubled. 


Ucuu r, soberly, prudentir. 


Fasteren e'en, Fasten'a eren. 


Dougbt. was or were able. 


Fauld. a fold; to fold. 




Faulding, folding. 


Doup-skelper, one that strikes the tail. 


Faut, fan It. 


Dour and din, sullen and sallow. 


Faute. want, lack. 


Doure, stout, durable ; sullen, stubborn. 


Fawsout, decent, seemly. 


Dow. an. or are able, can. 


Feal, a field ; smooth. 


J'owfl', pithless, wanting force. 


l..-rfu\ frightful. 


Dowie, worn with grief, fatigue, care ; ha f 


Feart. frighted. 


•sleep. 




Downa, am or are not able, cannot. 


Feeht, to fight 


Doyll, stupid. 


Fechtin, fighting. 


Dosenl, tupified, impotent. 


Feck, quantity, plenty. 


Drap, a urop ; to drop. 

lfraigle, to soil by trailing, to draggle among 


Feclet, an und<r woisicoat with sleeves. 


K^ifo'. Urge, brawny, stout. 




Feckless, puny, weak, silly. 


Drappinfr, dropping. 


Feckiy, nearly". 


Draontin<, drawling ; of a slow enunciation. 


Fe ? ..li g 



Droddoin, tl.e bieech. 

Drone, part of a bagpipe. 

Dioop rumpl't, that droops at the crupper. 



Dnddie, ragged. 
Dung, worsted ; p 
Dui.ted, beaten, b 



Eerie, frighted, dreading spiri 

Eild, old age. 

Klbuek. the elbow. 

Eldritch, pbi 

Eller, an elder, or church offit 

En', end. 

Enbrugh, Edinburgh. 

Eneugb, enough. 



ire, siout, tigorcus, healthy. 
II, keen, biting; the fle.h immediately ■ 
ier ihe skin ; a Old pretty le>el, on the s 
>r top of a hill. 



the nearer horse of the hindn 
le plough. " 



Fleecb, to supplicate in a flattering manner. 
Fleech'd, supplicated. 
Fleeching. supplicating. 
Flecah. a tleece. 

Fleiber, 10 decoy by fair words. 
Fle.herin, flallerin K . 
Fiey, ;o scare, to frtghlen. 
Fl.cbter, to flutter, as young nestlings whew 
their dam approaches. 

Be. a piece ot limber bung by way 
a flaiL »es in a s a e , 

Flisk, to fret at the joke. Flisket, fretted. 
Hitter, to titrate like the wings of tiaall 



BURNS GLOSSARY, 



■ 


at and plump. 


Foord, a for 






refalhers. 


Forbye, bes 


des. 


Forfuirn, d 


tressed ; worn 


Forgather!' 


, faligied. 


Forgie, tc f 


rgive. 


FoUier, fod 




Fon. full ; 




Foughten, t 


roubled, harass 



at ; to squint j a-gley, off a 
smooth and ready in speech. 



Gab 


then 


''■, i 


dirty 

rtiej. 

; to 5 


eak boldly, or 






a'pfo 


-'-'■ 


', the boy that 


Gae~ 


to so 


« e« 


d.Te 


nti gaenorgar 



elegantly fcra 
, a guinea. 



iz ; a grunting noise, 
of thriving growth 



BURNS GLOSSARY. 



b r, the great bible that lira 


in (be 


ir.il, (be parliciple. 

eul liael, a petty lath of ne 


gallon 


the temple, (be side of (lie 
s, nearly b.lP. partly. 

scar, or gulf in inoib-s. an. 
, a kind of pudding boiled 


ead. 


, 6 8P o a red. ,08 " e ' 





Ilaiib, a petty oath. 

Hal', or iiX'.'nii'abiding p 
Hale, whole, tight, healthy. 
Ilaly, holy. 

Hallun, a particular parti'i 
tage, or more properly a i 



Haud, 

l!a^ 
llaurlir. 


ohold. 

. low lying, rich I, 
to drag ; to peel. 
. peeling. 


ndj; vaUtji 


Haven 


, a balf-wille,! pe 


on ; half-Win 


Havins 






llawkio 

face. 

Heapit, 


, a cow, propeily 


one wuh a 


llealsouie. healihfu). wholesome. 


Heaiae 






Hear'i, 






Jlraili* 






Hvch! 






Hecht. 








be got or given: 




foretold ; offered! 





Herry, i 

Herrvm 



ho lends flocks, 
roperly lo pluuder 



herself; also a herd of cattle, 

Heu'jrh. 'a crng. a coalpit. 
Hilch, a hobble; to halt, 
llilchin, haltiDg. 



el, himself. 

. to hang, 
le, to walk cr 



II. g-. Louther, a kind of borse plcj, by juslling 
with the shoulder ; to justly. 

Hoolie. slowly, leisurely. 
Iloolie ! take leisure, slop, 
lloord, a hoard ; to hoaid. 
Moordit, hoarded, 
[lorn, a spoon made of horn. 
Horoie, one of the many names of the devil. 
u, b ; a Dough. 






Ilotah 


1, lurn'd topsyturvy ; bic 


iioughinngaiidiu, 




lloulel 


an owl. 






diminutiv 




Hove, 


„ Leav, 1 


swell. 


II-.. i 


heaved, • 


■relied. 


ll.,wd 


t, aniidwi 




Howe, 




hollovr or dell 


U ... 


ickitj sunk in tho tack. 




, he 




11,,'vsi: 


a tippling 
to dig. 


bouse ; a bout 


ii"»\ 


, digged. 




Howk 


■ ' 





Hoy6e, to pull upwards, 
lluyie, to amble crazily. 
Hu'ghoe, diminutive of Hugh. 



r l.ka, e 



■ei.iua. ingenuity 
Ingle, *re; lire-place. 
Isc. I shall or will. 
Ither, other ; one another 



JAD, jade ; alio a familiar term aai 

try folks for a giddy young girl. 
Jauk, to dally, to trifle. 
Jaukln, trifling, dallying. 
Jaup, a jerk of water ; to jerk a 



'jxfs 


girl, 
nder iu Ihe v, 


asy stays. 


,„„.«,„ 


dodgfng. 


quickly; a g 


s^oopfto " 


nife. 

w ihe head. 


Amotion 


and pealing 



GLOSSARY. 
Lallans, the 



l - , n-.ii .d, 
Kilt, to truss 




feace of -wool. 


King's hood", 
an ox, &c. 


Mm', 


a possip. 
i nd art^f ihe e 



Kjthe, to disco*, 
7.SDDIE, dhxjni 



ttish dialect of ihe Eng 



cind of shell-fish, I 
; my lanei thy Is 



Lang, long ; To tl 
Lap, did leap. 

Laverock! the 'lark 



Leal, loyal, true, f; 

ss*ssffl 



Link, tc 
Linkin, 
Linn, a 



Loof, the palm of the hand, 
Loot, did let. 
Lcoves, plural of loof. 



Luui, the chimney. 
Lunch, a large piece 
Lar.t, a column of su 
Lnnlin, smoking. 
Li art, of a mixed col 



, m.!-.;nej. 
l, a farm. 
, Molly. 



k lang, to long, to i 
smainder, the other: 
ing, bill. 



ir proud of 
irking fish. 



BURNS.— GLOSSARY. 



marks. (This s 
h in English req 



ibas 


ill t. 


be ground. 




Well, to me 


die. Ai«, ■ mails 


It 


Melvie 


to soil wilii meal." 




Men'. 








Menu, 




manners, deccrom 




. 






da 


M ■ 




all dog. ' 




Mi„J... 




ngbill. 




Uiddei 


•faoli 


a gutter al the bo 




hilU 








Mim, r 


rim. 


nflcct-dly meek. 





uf any kind, tent t 



t .1 






Miticuk. mistook. 
Milh.r. a mother. 

Uoartit}. lo mtaak" ,m ' Xt ' 
Moiiy, or Mo:iie, many. 



Moorlan', 



.Mu.ie, dimi . i 

Muslin-kail, t 

shelled bar! 



Dalj of water. 



Nappy, ale ; lo -"e rioST. 
NeglWir, , ... 



change j lo exchange, lo bi 
a(, a hangman's whip, 
>r belonging to the north. 



of it. 
ie, shivering; drooping. 

e-hip, a way of fetching a 



a partridge. 

i oatmeal pudding, a we 

put ; a pot. 

i IV ile, a p'ougli-etiuT. 

fetch the treath short, as in 



I-i rai 


e, fair speeches, flattery 


l flatter. 


Phrai 


in, flattery. 








P.broi 


b. High.ond war 








bagpipe. 








Pickle 


, a small quanlny 










lain, uueasiness. 
















Flacad, public proc!ama 








Plack 






Ihiti 




PI ,:. 


(ifh peony, twel 


e cf * 


bicb 


r.,t - 


e'*s P "m?'l s 


bout 


none] 




Pl»iie 


'diJmui&'ot'pTa 










or Pieugh, a plot 








J'.i.ki 










Poind 






for re. 














Per' 




















Ponk, 


.»« 









Pownie. a little 1 
Powthery, like p 



—GLOSSARY. 

I Roose, to praise, to commend. 



Prief, proof. 

Prig, to cheapen ; to dispute. 

Priggin, cheapening. 

Primsie, demure, precise. 

Propone, to lay down, to propose. 

Provoses, provosts. 

Puddock-stool, a mushroom, fungus. 

Pyle.la pyle'o' caff, a single grain of chaff, 

Q 

QUAT, to quit. 

(Juey ,' a cow from one to two years old. 

R 

RAGWEED, the herb ragwort. 
Raible, to rattle nonsense 
Rair, to roar. 

Ram-fcezl'd, fatieueJ ; overspread. 
Ram-stam, thoughtless, forward. 



Rath, a woman's 
Ryke, to reach. 



Sairly, or Sairlie, sorely. 

Sark, 'a shirt ; a shift. 
Sarkit, provided in shirts. 
Saugh, the willow. 
Saul, soul. 
Saumont, salmon. 
Saunt, a saint, 
m., salt, (adj.) salt. 

:anh, to damage, to injure; ii 



e '-,' plenty. 
Rief randies, sturdy beggars. 
Rig, a ridge. 
Rigwiddie, rigwoodie, the rope . 



R.pTa handful of unthreshed corn. 

K sk t, m ide a noise [ike the tearing of roots. 



Shill, shrill. 
Shog, a shock ; 
Shoal, a shovel. 



Skaith. tee Scaiih. 
Skellnm, a worthless ftllsw. 
Skelp. lo sirike, to slap ; to t 

tripping step ; 

Skelpe-l Ti.incr. 

scolding 
Bkalpin, bt»?p ng. wa'kni ? . 

i.l, nice, b'gbroetlled. 

Skirl, to'ehriek. ton 

shrieking, crying. 



ruachful term in frmjl 






Sktlr, force, very forcible m 



Slaw, slow. 

Site. si. ; altest. si 

Sleekit. sleek ; s'y. 

Slype. 10 fall oTer, 

Slypetffell. 

Sw', small. 



SlOlddv, » 

Smoor. to 
Smoot'd, i 

S a;per. to etm 



o deviel 



■■.• ■ 



Soasb, abuse, Bi lingsgale. 



Soeeshin-m 11, a sauff-boi. 
Soeck-drawing, trick conir'ning, crisfiy. 

inirtle, lo laugh restrainedlj. 
Snood, a ribbon for binding the hair. 
Snool, enc whosf spirit is broken »i.h 0| 



Snowk, to scent or snnff, as a dog 
Soowkit. seemed, snuffed. 
Sonsie, having swee:, engaging k 



Sow b, to try over a tune «iib a low w 
Sowtlier, solder; to solder, lo cemeuu 
Spae, lo prophesy, to diviue- 
Sptnl. aiimb. 
Spairge, to dash, lo soil, as with mire. 

Spea^paneTUw^n.''"' 

Sp-at, or Spate, a sweeping torrent, al 

country parlour. 

Spitr-t. ...quired. 
Splalier, a .piutler, to splutier. 
Spleugban, a lobi.cco-pouch. 
Sp'.ore, a frolic ; a noise, riot. 

Sprc-ckle'd. sp< 
Spring, a out. « 

^ru.h.t ,0 " S " 
Sprtlit, 



I, speckled. 











a crew, a parlj. 






Sottas! 


r, t > llutter 






wild duck 


-;,...!: 










S'r,che 


.'toTfa'g™'** 


t " t * Ch 


i Ifl 




Hack, 




",,e7c' 


be. 




■'-■■• 










Stalwa 












o 's.and ; S:a 






.-......■. 










Stuff 




o ; a iwinee 




Stank, 




















s ark, 














Eb] 


he gad-fl. 


gtai nj 


el. a blockhead ; half-»i 





Stech. :o cram tl 



Stet»e, lirm, compacted. 

Stell, a Kill. 

S:en. to rear as a horse. 

Sents, Iribuie; dues of an; ki 
S'ey.eice?; Sterol, steepest. 



BURNS— GLOSSARY. 
Stimpari, the eigath part of a Winchester Tairge, a target. 
Slirk, a cow or bullock a year old. 

Slockin, a slocking) Thro 






jridegrooni are put ir 

ocking at random among the company, 
the person whom it strikes is the n — 



Minding hollow, strong, and hoarse. 
>r Stowp, a kind of jug or dish with a 
Inst, more particularly dust in motion, 



b.wirl, a cnrve ; an eddying blast, or pool; 

SwirK^haggie, fall of knots. 

Swith, get away. 

bwither, to hesitate in choice ; an irresolal 

Syne, since, ago ; then. 



Teat, a small quantity. 

Teen, to provoke ; provocation. 

Tedding, spreading afier the mow 

while in the yoke, in the foreno 

Tentie, 'heedful, cautious. 
Tentless, heedless. 

- . ■ 



Stumpie, diminut 


re of = 






Themsel, tfcemse 






Strnnt, spirilnous 


liquor 


of any kind j to 


walk 


Thick, intimate, 






sturdily; huff, 


uli;- 






Thieveleas, cold 


dry, spited 






eofan 






person's demea 














Thir, these. 






Sturtin, frighted. 








Thirl, thrill. 






Sucker, sugar. 








Thirled, thrilled, 


vibrated. 




Sud, should. 








Thole, to suffer, 






Sugh, the coutinu 


sdrus 


ling noise of w 


ud or 


Thowe, a thaw ; 
Thowless, slack, 


lazy. 3 ™' 




Sonlhron, sontbe 




a old name fc 


I the 


Thrace, throng; 


a cruwd. 




English nation. 








Thrapple, throal, 






Swaird, sward. 








Thrave, twenty-f 


oursbeaves w 


two shocks of 



Thretteen, thirteen, 

Tnristle, thistle. 

Through, to go on with ; to mak 

Throuther, pell-mell, confusedly. 



r, like the walk of a chili 



Toddlio, I 
Toom. em 
Toop, ■ n 
Toud, a b 
Toul, the 



EURN9 — GLOSSARY. 

Wamefu', n bellv-full. 



Towzie, rough, • 
2JjT..»«r,oldft 
Tovte. lo loner I,! 
Trunstno ..ilied, t 



i of female head-dress. 



ullofttlcks. 

, --j ip * ujro,ih j 1 i 

ned; To'trytM, 
w hide, of wliich in oi- 



ly- 

i wot. I know. 

e made of meal and 

ihe addition of milk, t 

wand. 

I «• fullers do cloth. 



o make an a, 
times plou-b- 



im»j a dilferen 



Twal. iwrl.e; Twal-pen 
qusntnv, a penal »..,,( 
En^l,.h is lid. Sctcb 



verj, verj great, 



Weird, fale. 

«-'«, we shall. 

WllS. Who. 

\N l.at,. il,' wbelpe.i. 



VAPRIV, vapouring. 



W 



tt.nglj. unknowingly. 






Whiddin, running as a hare or conv. 
Wln-nicl-en-.. whims, fences, crotchets. 
Whii.gin. crjlop, complaining, frelting. 
\\ li rli e ; K ums, u.cless oruameots, trilling np. 

Hie, a whistle; lo wbislle. 

ibl, silence ; to bold one'. Whisht, to be 



WA' wall ; Wa's, wallf . 
Wabster. a wearer. 
Wad, would; to bet; ibl 
Wadna. w.mld not. 
Wae, wo; anrrowfnl. 

Walt, the cmss thread that goes frum' the ' 

ahnttle ihruugh the web ; w " 
Wair, to lav oqT, to expend. 
Wale. -»--■ 



draught of liquor. 



riHa. 



Waled, c 



, ample. Urge, jolly ; also an interjection 



tight, powerful, strong; incentive ; 

'icker, willow (the smaller sort). 
'iel, a small whirlpool. 

il,art, bashful and reserved ; avoiding 



■ Wimple, to meander. 



UTJHNS GLOSSARY. 



Wran», wrong; to wi 
Wreath, a drifted hea 
"Wud, mad, d.s'racted 



y U6ed for ihoa. 



i, jestera.ght. 
fate, such as U 
farm-yard or field. 



EDINBURGH : 
Printed by Andrew Shortrede, Thistle Lan 









1 






























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*5 *** - 
■0- ^ '"^ •*; 






* <*t 









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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



'i'llllllllllillll III 
014 389 752 7 




